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grit

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.
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.

/ ɡrɪt /

noun

small hard particles of sand, earth, stone, etc
Also calledgritstone
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

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Derived Forms

ˈgritless, adjective

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Other Words From

gritless adjective
gritter noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of grit1

First recorded before

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of grit1

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

great

groats

gruel

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

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Example Sentences

Herbert was always the one Manley wanted on the mound at the end of a game because of his competitive grit.

Etiwanda Girls Basketball - Varsity Team - '24-'25: Recreating a New Identity with the same passion and grit!

Incoming national security advisor Waltz said Hegseth "has the grit" to make "real reform" happen at the Pentagon.

Cinderella, however, ruined the coronation by proving mentality is still more valuable than money, grit can still beat greed and the magic of pixie dust should never be underestimated.

Make sure to strain for sandy grit as well.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023