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PlainSpell

trim

/ˈtɹɪm/verb, noun, adjective, adverb

trim is spelled T-R-I-M: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 7.8 times per million words in written English, the 8,417th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, trim means “To reduce slightly; to cut; especially, to remove excess” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).

How many letters and syllables are in trim?

Letters4: T-R-I-M
Syllables1
In writing7.8 times per million words; the 8,417th most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searchednone measured in search
Rhymes with

Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.

How common is trim?

Trim appears 7.8 times per million words in written English, the 8,417th most frequent word form in the list.

Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).

How do you pronounce trim?

  • US /ˈtɹɪm/
  • US [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɪm] ~ [ˈt̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷɪm]
  • /ˈtɹəm/

Trim has one syllable.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-trim.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

What rhymes with trim?

9 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as trim from its last stressed vowel (/ɪm/):

Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).

Forms of trim

  • trims present, singular, he/she/it, plural
  • trimming participle, present
  • trimmed participle, past
  • trimmer comparative
  • trimmest superlative

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does trim mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

verb

  1. 1

    To reduce slightly; to cut; especially, to remove excess.

    He trimmed his beard before the interview.

  2. 2

    To decorate or adorn; especially of a Christmas tree.

    They traditionally trim the tree on Christmas Eve.

  3. 3

    To adjust the positions of control surfaces, sometimes using trim tabs, so as to modify or eliminate the aircraft's tendency to pitch, roll, or yaw when the cockpit controls are released.

  4. 4

    To modify the angle relative to the water by shifting cargo or ballast; to adjust for sailing; to assume, or cause to assume a certain position, or trim, in the water.

  5. 5

    To modify the angle (of the sails) relative to the wind, especially to set them at the most advantageous angle.

  6. 6

    datedTo balance; to fluctuate between parties, so as to appear to favour each.

  7. 7

    To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to make right, neat, or pleasing; to adjust.

  8. 8

    To dress; to make smooth.

noun

  1. 1

    Decoration; especially, decoration placed along edges or borders.

    Paint the house white with blue trim.

  2. 2

    A haircut, especially a moderate one to touch up an existing style.

    I went to the hairdresser for a trim but came back nearly bald.

  3. 3

    Dress; gear; ornaments.

  4. 4

    The manner in which something is equipped or adorned; order; disposition.

    to be in good trim

  5. 5

    Features optionally available on a vehicle; an established configuration of such features within a model (a trim level).

    Holonyms: make; model

  6. 6

    The state of adjustment of control surfaces such that the desired attitude can be maintained without requiring the continuous application of force to the cockpit controls.

  7. 7

    The mechanism(s) used to trim an aircraft in roll, pitch, and/or yaw.

  8. 8

    slangvulgarThe female genitalia.

adjective

  1. 1

    Physically fit.

    He goes jogging every day to keep in trim.

  2. 2

    Slender, lean.

    a trim figure

  3. 3

    Neat or smart in appearance.

    a trim lawn

adverb

  1. 1

    In good order; properly managed or maintained.

  2. 2

    With sails well trimmed.

noun

as TRIM
  1. 1

    Acronym of trade-related investment measure.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

Trim in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

LanguageWords
Frenchtailler (to reduce slightly), compenser (to adjust the positions of control surfaces…), compensation (the state of adjustment of control surfaces…), compensateur (the mechanism used to trim an aircraft), assiette (the manner in which a vessel floats)
Germankürzen, nachschneiden, schneiden, stutzen, zurückschneiden (to reduce slightly), schmücken (to decorate)
Portuguesecortar, podar, aparar (to reduce slightly), decorar (to decorate), remate (decoration placed along edges or borders)
Spanishrecortar, podar, mondar, escamondar, escamujar, atusar (to reduce slightly)

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.

Where does trim come from?

From Middle English trimen, trymen, trümen, from Old English trymman (“to make firm; strengthen”), from Proto-West Germanic *trummjan, from Proto-Germanic *trumjaną (“to make fast; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumaz (“firm; strong; sound”).

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What to look up after trim