grit
noun
abrasive particles or granules, as of sand or other small, coarse impurities found in the air, food, water, etc.
was gritting
-
past progressiveof grit.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
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 think he was gritting his teeth," says the 94-year-old, laughing.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2023
At first, I thought he had stepped on one of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s sharpened pencils, and was gritting his teeth in pain, but I believe it was, indeed, a smile.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2018
I was gritting my teeth at the level of looniness much of the way through this episode.
From New York Times ● May 22, 2016
Natalie said, and even through the earbud, Chess could tell she was gritting her teeth.
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
