grit

American  

[grit] / grɪt /

noun

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.

   Synonyms:

   courage, fortitude, resolution

3. a coarse-grained siliceous rock, usually with sharp, angular grains.

4. British. gravel.

5. sand or other fine grainy particles eaten by fowl to aid in digestion.

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verb (used with object)

gritted, gritting

1. to cause to grind or grate together.

verb (used without object)

gritted, gritting

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

idioms

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

grit ¹ British  

/ ɡrɪt /

noun

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. the texture or grain of stone

4. indomitable courage, toughness, or resolution

5. engineering an arbitrary measure of the size of abrasive particles used in a grinding wheel or other abrasive process

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verb

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

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

Grit ² British  

/ ɡrɪt /

noun

1. an informal word for Liberal

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Other Word Forms

• gritless adjective
• gritter noun

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.

Example Sentences

Qualities like grit or self-control influenced overall performance, but they did not prevent people from having less productive days.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

But people close to Guthrie believe her grit and deep religious faith will provide her with the strength to move forward.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

They brought flair, grit, and feet that seemed magnetized to the ball as they starred for clubs such as Ajax and Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

"They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament. This victory has filled every Indian heart with pride and joy."

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

Underneath my feet, a grit of black soil spread across the floorboards, creeping from the darkness under the empty cots.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• daring
• fortitude
• guts
• moxie
• perseverance
• spirit
• spunk
• tenacity
• toughness