grit

noun
\ ˈgrit \
Definition of grit
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a: SAND, GRAVEL
b: a hard sharp granule (as of sand)also : material (as many abrasives)
composed of such granules
2: any of several sandstones
3a: the structure of a stone that adapts it to grinding
b: the size of abrasive particles usually expressed as their mesh
4: firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or
dangermanaged to survive by his grit and guile
5capitalized : a Liberal in Canadian politics

grit
verb
gritted; gritting
Definition of grit (Entry 2 of 2)
intransitive verb
: to give forth a grating sounddry snow gritting beneath our feet
transitive verb
1: to cause (one's teeth) to grind or grategritted his teeth and faced the
challenge
2: to cover or spread with gritespecially : to smooth (a material, such as
marble) with a coarse abrasive
Synonyms & AntonymsMore Example SentencesLearn
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Synonyms & Antonyms for grit
Synonyms: Noun

backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grittiness, guts, intestinal

fortitude, pluck,spunk

Synonyms: Verb

crunch, gnash, grate, grind, scrape, scrunch

Antonyms: Noun

spinelessness
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Examples of grit in a Sentence

Noun

He shook out his shoes to remove the small rocks and grit. Through
resourcefulness and grit, the pioneers survived the winter.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The image of Durant grimacing in pain after giving his all to help the
Warriors withstand elimination proved to be an image of grit and sacrifice
that drew admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.— Scott Gleeson, USA
TODAY, "Kevin Durant's mother puts son's critics on blast with passionate message
following injury," 11 June 2019Dash & Dot Robots facilitate creativity,
promote grit and perseverance, improve collaboration with others and
enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills.— John
Benson, cleveland.com, "Fairview Park Education Foundation awards grants, including
enhanced summer reading program," 3 June 2019
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect
current usage of the word 'grit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of
Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of grit

Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1762, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for grit
Noun and Verb

Middle English grete, from Old English grēot; akin to Old High
German grioz sand

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Dictionary Entries near grit
gristmill
grist to one's/the mill
grisy
grit
grit cell
grith
grithman
Phrases Related to grit
grit one's teeth
Statistics for grit
Last Updated

14 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Top 1% of lookups
Time Traveler for grit
The first known use of grit was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for grit

grit
noun
English Language Learners Definition of grit
: very small pieces of sand or stone
informal : mental toughness and courage
See the full definition for grit in the English Language Learners Dictionary

grit
noun
\ ˈgrit \
Kids Definition of grit
(Entry 1 of 2)
1: rough hard bits especially of sand
2: strength of mind or spiritHe had never learned to run properly, but … no
one had more grit than he.— Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia

grit
verb
gritted; gritting
Kids Definition of grit (Entry 2 of 2)
: GRIND ENTRY 1 SENSE 3, GRATE

GRIT
abbreviation
Legal Definition of GRIT
grantor retained income trust
More from Merriam-Webster on grit
Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with grit
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for grit
Spanish Central: Translation of grit
Nglish: Translation of grit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of grit for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grit
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SOURCE: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grit