1
: one that grades
2
: a machine for leveling earth
3
: a pupil in a school grade
a fifth grader

Examples of grader in a Sentence

Her students say that she's a tough grader.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plantation resident Candice D’Angelo’s seventh-grader goes to a Catholic school, and her first- and fourth-graders attend a public school. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 But before the bespectacled third-grader made his way onto our screens and into our hearts, Arthur's first home was in the world of books. — Ashley Montgomery, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026 First graders who struggle with reading usually continue to have trouble with literacy later on. — Alex H. Poole, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026 In the 1990s, Florida’s fourth graders were testing well below the national average. — Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grader

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grader was in 1832

Cite this Entry

“Grader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grader. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: one that grades
2
: a machine for leveling earth
3
: a pupil in a school grade
a group of sixth graders

More from Merriam-Webster on grader

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