grit

[ grit ]

/ grɪt /

See synonyms for: grit / gritted / gritting on Thesaurus.com

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.

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), grit·ted, grit·ting.

to cause to grind or grate together.

verb (used without object), grit·ted, grit·ting.

to make a scratchy or slightly grating sound, as of sand being walked on; grate.

SYNONYMS FOR grit

2 resolution, fortitude, courage.

See synonyms for grit on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for grit

grit one's teeth, to show tenseness, anger, or determination by or as if by clamping or grinding the teeth together.

Origin of grit

before 1000; Middle English gret, griet, grit,Old English grēot; cognate with German Griess,Old Norse grjōt pebble, boulder; see grits

OTHER WORDS FROM grit

gritless, adjectivegritter, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for grit

He was helped in part to build the idea and the business through his grit.
Nana nabs $6M for an online academy and marketplace dedicated to appliance repair|Ingrid Lunden|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
Giuliani also labeled Philadelphia Democrats “elite,” which may be a historic first and fighting words in this town that prides itself on its grit.
Inside Philadelphia’s vote-counting operation, where democracy continued calmly amid the storm outside|Karen Heller|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
One crucial lesson I have learned from my two years at the ’Tute is how to be a problem solver, through pure grit and commitment.
A front-row seat to #BlackLivesMatter|Katie McLean|October 20, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Sanding disks of various grit attach to the tool using stick-on adhesive or hook-and-loop fasteners.
Reliable random orbital sanders for your workshop|PopSci Commerce Team|October 9, 2020|Popular Science

Both grit and conscientiousness had a bit of predictive power on some outcomes, which isn’t surprising since some critics argue that grit is basically just a fancy repackaging of the older concept of conscientiousness.
Why Endurance Athletes Feel Less Pain|Alex Hutchinson|October 7, 2020|Outside Online
After my crying spell stopped, I gritted my teeth, tucked my crutch under my right arm, and turned to my husband.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was Monday morning and the wheels had gritted getting under way.
Aunt Jane|Jennette Lee
Moore strained in his intensity of emotion, and he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
The Mysterious Rider|Zane Grey
It had been designed for a much larger man, and I gritted my teeth in the expectation of taking a beating.
Attrition|Jim Wannamaker
Presently Max gritted his teeth together for the effort he meant to put forth, and upon which so much depended.
Afloat on the Flood|Lawrence J. Leslie
The deputy staggered, gritted his teeth, and flung himself at the younger man.
Overland Red|Henry Herbert Knibbs

British Dictionary definitions for grit (1 of 2)

grit

/ (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 grits, gritting or gritted

to clench or grind together (two objects, esp the teeth)

to cover (a surface, such as icy roads) with grit

Derived forms of grit

gritless, adjective

Word Origin for grit

Old English grēot; related to Old Norse grjōt pebble, Old High German grioz; see great, groats, gruel

British Dictionary definitions for grit (2 of 2)

Grit

/ (ɡrɪt) /

noun, adjective Canadian

an informal word for Liberal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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grit

noun

verb (used with object), grit·ted, grit·ting.

verb (used without object), grit·ted, grit·ting.

SYNONYMS FOR grit