grant
grant — noun
1. money provided by a government or public body to an individual or group for a de
money provided by a government or public body to an individual or group for a defined purpose, such as research, education, or community development.
The university received a large government grant to study renewable energy sources.
grant + to-infinitive (purpose)
Mayumi applied for a research grant to fund her project on clean water.
apply for + grant + to-infinitive
Without the arts grant, the small theatre would have closed its doors.
compound noun: arts grant
The government announced new grants for businesses affected by the flood.
grants + for + [recipient]
Haruto used his student grant to pay for textbooks and living costs.
student grant (education context)
- receive a grant
- apply for a grant
- a research grant
- a government grant
- grant funding
- a student grant
- award
often for achievements or merit rather than financial need
- subsidy
usually ongoing financial support, not a one-time sum
- scholarship
specifically for education, based on merit or need
- loan
money that must be repaid with interest
Grammar Patterns
grant + to + infinitive (purpose)
grant + for + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used with verbs like receive, get, apply for, award, and announce. The purpose of the grant is introduced by to-infinitive or for + noun.
Common Mistakes
2. Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), originally named Hiram Ulysses Grant, an American
Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), originally named Hiram Ulysses Grant, an American general who led the Union Army during the American Civil War and later served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877.
Ulysses S. Grant accepted the surrender of the Confederate Army in 1865.
historical figure: American Civil War general
The face of Ulysses S. Grant appears on the US fifty-dollar bill.
A bronze statue of Ulysses S. Grant on horseback stands at the base of Capitol Hill in Washington.
Historians credit Ulysses S. Grant with advancing civil rights through the Department of Justice during his presidency.
Usage Note
This is a biographical entry. Ulysses S. Grant is referred to as a historical figure, not a common noun.
Cary Grant
idiomCary Grant (1904–1986), born Archibald Alexander Leach, a British-born American actor known for his suave, charming screen personality and leading roles in films such as North by Northwest, The Philadelphia Story, and Bringing Up Baby.
Cary Grant starred in several classic Hollywood films during the 1940s and 1950s.
Many critics consider Cary Grant one of the greatest actors in American cinema history.
grant — verb
1. to officially provide something that someone has requested — for example, granti
to officially provide something that someone has requested — for example, granting a request, permission, a visa, or a legal right.
The manager granted Tomás's request for a week of unpaid leave.
grant + someone's + request
Yumi's student visa application for Canada was granted within two weeks.
passive: visa was granted
The court granted the family the right to visit the property each month.
grant + [person] + [right] + to-infinitive
Charlotte's professor granted her permission to submit the essay two days late after she showed a doctor's note.
grant + permission + to-infinitive
The city council granted permission to build a new park on the empty lot.
grant + permission + to-infinitive
- grant a request
- grant permission
- grant a visa
- grant access
- grant leave
Grammar Patterns
grant + something
grant + someone + something
grant + something + to + someone
be granted + something
Usage Note
Often used in passive constructions (something is granted). Common objects: request, permission, visa, right, access, leave. The recipient can follow directly (grant him access) or be introduced by to (grant access to him).
Common Mistakes
2. to accept the truth of a point, especially as a prelude to raising a contrasting
to accept the truth of a point, especially as a prelude to raising a contrasting argument — for example, granting that an opponent has a valid reason before explaining why you still disagree.
I grant that Wei's proposal costs half as much, but we must also check its reliability.
grant + that-clause + but [contrast]
Mira granted that the new hire had worked hard but still felt some concern.
grant + that-clause + but [contrast]
The judge granted that the evidence was weak, yet she also noted the witness's testimony was credible.
We must grant that the situation has improved, even if only a little.
modal + grant + that-clause
Ravindra granted that his teammate had a point but held his ground.
- grant that
- grant someone that
- grant the point
- grant the argument
- admit
more general; can be about mistakes or faults
- concede
stronger sense of yielding after an argument
- acknowledge
neutral; can be about facts or contributions
Grammar Patterns
grant + that-clause
grant + someone + that-clause
Usage Note
Almost always introduces a contrast: the speaker concedes one point before raising a stronger counterargument. Common in formal writing, debates, and polite disagreement. The that-clause can sometimes be omitted in spoken English with 'Granted, ...'
Common Mistakes
3. to accept a statement as correct without stopping to question or verify it — for
to accept a statement as correct without stopping to question or verify it — for example, granting that the shop will be open on a public holiday simply because it usually is.
Fatima simply granted the meeting was at two o'clock and never checked the email confirmation.
grant + that-clause (assumption without checking)
Jabari had always granted his sister would take over the family store.
Dewi granted the hotel would supply towels and left hers at home.
grant + that-clause (expectation)
Astrid granted the train would arrive on time, but it was an hour late.
Many commuters grant that the subway will run on schedule until a signal failure causes delays.
- grant that
- simply grant
- always grant
- tend to grant
- assume
very common; neutral about whether the belief is justified
- presume
suggests a reasonable basis for the belief
- take for granted
implies the belief may be careless or unappreciative
Grammar Patterns
grant + that-clause
take + it + for granted + that-clause
Usage Note
This sense overlaps with verb sense 4 (take for granted), but is used with a that-clause to express an unquestioned belief about a specific situation. The phrase take it for granted (that...) is far more common in everyday English.
Common Mistakes
4. to not show or feel that you value someone or something, because you are so used
to not show or feel that you value someone or something, because you are so used to having them or it that you stop noticing how important they are — for example, taking a friend's kindness or clean drinking water for granted.
After a year abroad, Roya realized she had taken her parents for granted.
take + someone + for granted
Caleb took it for granted that his car would start every morning.
take + it + for granted + that-clause
Many residents take clean tap water for granted until a shortage hits.
take + something + for granted
Ezra felt his boss took his hard work for granted and never said thanks.
Most young people take their physical fitness for granted until a minor injury keeps them off the court.
take + [abstract noun] + for granted
- take for granted
- take someone for granted
- take something for granted
- take it for granted that
- underestimate
to think something is less valuable than it really is
- overlook
to fail to notice or appreciate
- take lightly
informal; to treat something as unimportant
- appreciate
to recognize and be grateful for value
- value
to consider something important and worthwhile
Grammar Patterns
take + someone/something + for granted
take + it + for granted + that-clause
Usage Note
Only used in the construction take + object + for granted. The object can be a person, a thing, or a that-clause (with it as a placeholder). Common in past tense to express regret: 'I took her for granted.' Not used in other grammatical patterns of grant.
Common Mistakes
To fail to appreciate someone or something because you are too familiar with them.
Mina took her loyal assistant for granted until he resigned.
Do you take your health for granted until you get sick?
To assume that something is true without checking or confirming it.
Brian took it for granted that the meeting was canceled.
Did you take it for granted that she would accept the offer?
Word family
- grantedadverbB2
- grantedconjunctionB2
- granteenounC1
- grantornounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Grant is more formal than give and implies an official or authoritative decision after a request. Give is neutral and can be used in any context — you give a gift, give advice, or give permission. Award suggests the thing is given as a recognition of merit or by official judgment, such as awarding a prize or a contract. Allow focuses on removing a restriction rather than transferring something: you allow someone to enter a room. Permit is even more formal than allow and implies written or legal authorization, such as a permit to carry a weapon. For everyday requests among friends, use allow or let. For official decisions by institutions, courts, or authorities, grant is appropriate.
Common collocations
Nouns
- request
- permission
- visa
- right
- access
- funding
- leave
Adverbs
- officially
- formally
- generously
- readily
- gratefully
Phrases
- take for granted
- grant someone the right to
- be granted permission to
Prepositions
Etymology
Grant entered English from Old French granter, meaning 'to promise, assure, or guarantee.' The French word developed from Latin credere, which means 'to believe or entrust.' Over time, the meaning shifted from making a promise to formally giving or allowing something, and later to admitting that a statement is true — reflecting the idea of 'entrusting belief' to a claim.