grit

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈɡrɪt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/grɪt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(grit)

Inflections of 'grit' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
grits
v 3rd person singular
gritting
v pres p
gritted
v past
gritted
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
grit /grɪt/USA pronunciation   n., v., grit•ted, grit•ting. 
n. [uncountable]
  1. hard, abrasive particles, as of sand, stone, or gravel.
  2. firmness of character;
    pluck:showed grit in the face of danger.
Idioms
  1. Idioms grit one's teeth, to show forbearance or determination by or as if by clamping or grinding the teeth together.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
grit  (grit),USA pronunciation n., v., grit•ted, grit•ting. 
n. 
  1. abrasive particles or granules, as of sand or other small, coarse impurities found in the air, food, water, etc.
  2. firmness of character;
    indomitable spirit;
    pluck:She has a reputation for grit and common sense.
  3. a coarse-grained siliceous rock, usually with sharp, angular grains.
  4. British Termsgravel.
  5. sand or other fine grainy particles eaten by fowl to aid in digestion.

v.t. 
  1. to cause to grind or grate together.

v.i. 
  1. to make a scratchy or slightly grating sound, as of sand being walked on;
    grate.
  2. Idioms grit one's teeth, to show tenseness, anger, or determination by or as if by clamping or grinding the teeth together.
  • bef. 1000; Middle English gret, griet, grit, Old English grēot; cognate with German Griess, Old Norse grjōt pebble, boulder; see grits
grit′less, adj. 
grit′ter, n. 
    2. resolution, fortitude, courage.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
grit /ɡrɪt/ n
  1. small hard particles of sand, earth, stone, etc
  2. Also called: gritstone any coarse sandstone that can be used as a grindstone or millstone
  3. indomitable courage, toughness, or resolution
 vb (grits, gritting, gritted)
  1. to clench or grind together (two objects, esp the teeth)
  2. to cover (a surface, such as icy roads) with grit
Etymology: Old English grēot; related to Old Norse grjōt pebble, Old High German grioz; see great, groats, gruel
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Grit /ɡrɪt/ n , adj Canadian
  1. an informal word for Liberal
'grit' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
blinding - gizzard - great - greywacke - gritter - gritty - grits - groats - grout - mote - nitty-gritty - sandblast - audacity - flinger - grind - grozing iron - impalpable
Collocations: covered in grit from the [road, hike], wipe the grit off your face, wipe the grit out of your eyes, more...

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