grit
noun
abrasive particles or granules, as of sand or other small, coarse impurities found in the air, food, water, etc.
Trivia Time
Which material is commonly sprinkled on icy roads to provide grit and improve traction?
grit
American
[grit]
/ grɪt /
noun
-
abrasive particles or granules, as of sand or other small, coarse impurities found in the air, food, water, etc.
-
firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck.
She has a reputation for grit and common sense.
- Synonyms:
- courage, fortitude, resolution
-
a coarse-grained siliceous rock, usually with sharp, angular grains.
-
British. gravel.
-
sand or other fine grainy particles eaten by fowl to aid in digestion.
verb (used with object)
-
grits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gritted,
past participle, past
-
gritting
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
grits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gritted,
past participle, past
-
gritting
present participle
idioms
grit
1
British
/ ɡrɪt /
noun
-
small hard particles of sand, earth, stone, etc
-
Also called: gritstone. any coarse sandstone that can be used as a grindstone or millstone
-
the texture or grain of stone
-
indomitable courage, toughness, or resolution
-
engineering an arbitrary measure of the size of abrasive particles used in a grinding wheel or other abrasive process
verb
-
to clench or grind together (two objects, esp the teeth)
-
to cover (a surface, such as icy roads) with grit
Grit
2
British
/ ɡrɪt /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gritsimple
-
gritssimple
-
have grittedperfect
-
has grittedperfect
-
am grittingprogressive
-
are grittingprogressive
-
is grittingprogressive
-
have been grittingperfect progressive
-
has been grittingperfect progressive
Past
-
grittedsimple
-
had grittedperfect
-
was grittingprogressive
-
were grittingprogressive
-
had been grittingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of grit
First recorded before 1000; Middle English gret, griet, grit, Old English grēot; cognate with German Griess, Old Norse grjōt “pebble, boulder”; see grits
Explanation
Grit is a coarse, gravelly dust. If you don't rinse dried beans before you cook them, you may end up crunching grit between your teeth. Grit is small, sandy pieces of rock or stone. Another way to use the word grit is to mean a determined, courageous attitude. If you have grit, you'll keep trying to climb a rock wall no matter how many times you slip and fall. Charles Portis's 1968 novel "True Grit" tells the story of a young girl in the 1800s who embodies this quality, persevering through extreme difficulty and struggle.
Vocabulary lists containing grit
Bridge to Terabithia
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Where the Red Fern Grows
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Free Lunch
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And part of that myth is the conflation between willpower and grit.
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026
But underwater, we grit our teeth at Jay’s every fluttering breath.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
“She had a grit to her,” Rock adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Brolin explained exactly what he disliked about the neighborhood, noting: “I like a little grit. You know what I mean? There’s not a lot of grit in Sandy Springs.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
Their last night of thirst and bland journey food and aching buttocks and saddle chafe and dry bathing and grit in every crease of cloth and flesh.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
He was a fixture at Grit League workouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
Joss had a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation" and appeared in TV shows like "Tulsa King" and the films "True Grit" and "The Magnificent Seven."
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2025
Bennett's final record Grit was given the Modern Scottish Classic award.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2024
Wendy Navarro, a young Esperanza graphic designer, videographer and founder of Grit Media, who grew up in the neighborhood, chimed in that the NEA’s support has been crucial to Esperanza’s post-pandemic recovery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2024
Grit: As chickens do not have teeth, they eat sand and small stones to fill their gizzards.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
The corn ground at the Old Mill is Tennessee-grown, never genetically modified, and no harsh chemicals or additives are added to the cornmeal and grits.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Ms. Lakshmi serves it on a bed of traditional Southern cheesy grits and suggests chowchow pickles, an old-time relish, as a side.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025
My husband, an omnivore, thinks there is nothing finer than this very gravy on top of his favorite breakfast bowl that begins with a hefty serving of grits topped with perfectly cooked, over-medium, fried eggs.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2025
You’ll want clamps of various sizes to hold pieces together while drilling or assembling, along with sandpaper in a range of grits.
From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024
“I wouldn’t mind eating grits if there’s ever a famine,” the colonel answered.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
And unlike past editions when they often gritted their teeth and only eked through, they’ve done it this time with a game to spare.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
"I gritted my teeth on everything," Naumov said.
From Barron's ● Jan. 11, 2026
Not performatively fun, not “I’m smiling through gritted teeth” fun, but genuinely pleasurable, in that way long projects can feel when the rhythm carries you.
From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2025
Bradford Council has gritted the main roads but has still advised people to drive with caution.
From BBC ● Jan. 10, 2025
Shomari gritted his teeth, as though he meant to fight, and for a second looked as though he might try it, but then he seemed to think better of it and stared ahead.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
The Dodgers still don’t know what to reasonably expect from Ohtani, gritting out the postseason despite discomfort in his left knee and right arm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Though Alicia emerged victorious, Christiane held a plank for over three minutes, arms trembling and gritting her teeth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Liu said he was "gritting my teeth and holding on" -- and hoping that the government helped to "stabilise the currency".
From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026
I was headlining at an age where most of the people around me were still gritting it out in clubs and you’re alone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2025
Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth, I moved on.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
