grotto

noun

grot·​to ˈgrä-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce grotto (audio)
plural grottoes also grottos
Synonyms of grottonext
1
: cave
2
: an artificial recess or structure made to resemble a natural cave

Synonyms of grotto

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of grotto in a Sentence

at the heart of the shrine is a small rocky grotto into which pilgrims can descend
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.
This spa has been a wellness landmark for two decades thanks to its subterranean hydrotherapy circuit, a sequence of hot tubs, grotto waterfalls, and rain shower pools. — Adrienne Matei, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026 The pool flows around a viewing deck with a grotto and slide. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026 The site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims each year, especially sick and disabled believers hoping for a cure from the famed spring water in the Lourdes grotto where the visions purportedly occurred. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026 The site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims annually, including sick and disabled believers hoping for a cure from the famed spring water in the Lourdes grotto. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grotto

Word History

Etymology

Italian grotta, grotto, from Latin crypta cavern, crypt

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grotto was in 1617

Rhymes for grotto

See All Rhymes for grotto

Browse Nearby Words

Grotthuss-Draper law
grotto
grottoed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

grotto

noun
grot·​to ˈgrät-ō How to pronounce grotto (audio)
plural grottoes also grottos
1
: cave entry 1
2
: an artificial structure made to resemble a natural cave
Etymology

from Italian grotta, grotto "cave," from Latin crypta "cavern, crypt" — related to grotesque

More from Merriam-Webster on grotto

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grotto

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All