Grimy means covered with dirt, grime, or filth that has built up over time. When something is grimy, it's coated with a stubborn layer of greasy, sticky dirt that won't come off easily. A grimy window might be so dirty you can barely see through it. Grimy hands after working on a bicycle chain feel slick with oil and dirt. A grimy kitchen floor might stick to your shoes.

The word often suggests neglect: things become grimy when they haven't been cleaned for a while, allowing dirt and grease to accumulate. A single muddy footprint isn't grimy, but a floor covered in tracked-in mud, spilled food, and dust definitely is.

You might describe an old garage as grimy, or complain about the grimy handles on playground equipment that hasn't been maintained. The word can also describe places or neighborhoods that look run-down and dirty. When you finally scrub something grimy clean, you can see the real color underneath all that built-up gunk.