grit

grit — noun

1. tiny, rough fragments of rock that feel like sand when you touch them

1.nounB1
Definition

tiny, rough fragments of rock that feel like sand when you touch them

Example

Fine grit covered the window ledge after the builders finished the wall.

uncountable: covered in grit

Ilan found a piece of grit stuck under his eyelid and it really hurt.

collocation: a piece of grit

Common collocations
  • a piece of grit
  • a grain of grit
  • covered in grit
  • loose grit
  • grit in one's eye
Synonyms
  • sand

    finer than grit; individual grains are much smaller

  • gravel

    larger than grit; visible pebbles rather than rough dust

  • dust

    even finer than sand; particles are powdery, not rough

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun, used with 'a piece of' for a single particle

Usage Note

Uncountable — to refer to a single particle, use 'a piece of grit' or 'a grain of grit'.

Common Mistakes

I found a grit in my shoe.
I found a piece of grit in my shoe.
Grit is uncountable; use 'a piece of grit' for one particle.

2. the quality of staying determined and not giving up when facing hardships or pro

2.nounB2
Definition

the quality of staying determined and not giving up when facing hardships or problems

Example

Lara showed real grit by finishing the race even after she injured her ankle.

collocation: show grit

After three failed attempts, Nia finally passed her driving test through sheer grit.

collocation: sheer grit

Common collocations
  • real grit
  • true grit
  • show grit
  • take grit
  • sheer grit
  • grit and determination
Synonyms
  • determination

    broader term — does not necessarily imply hardship or long-term struggle

  • perseverance

    emphasises continuing through repeated difficulties step by step

  • resilience

    focuses on the ability to recover quickly from setbacks

  • fortitude

    more formal; suggests calmly enduring pain or hardship

Antonyms
  • weakness

    lack of strength to persist

  • giving up

    the act of surrendering to difficulty rather than pushing through

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun, often modified by adjectives such as 'real' or 'true'

Usage Note

Uncountable. Frequently appears with modifiers like 'real', 'true', 'sheer' to intensify the meaning. Often used in contexts of long-term effort rather than short bursts of courage.

Common Mistakes

He showed a lot of grits.
He showed a lot of grit.
Grit is uncountable in this sense; no plural form.

3. a soft breakfast food made from dried corn kernels that have been ground and boi

3.nounC1
Definition

a soft breakfast food made from dried corn kernels that have been ground and boiled until thick, popular in the southern United States

Example

For breakfast, the diner served grits with butter and cheese on top.

plural form: grits

Although Yan grew up in Texas, he had never tried grits until college.

Common collocations
  • shrimp and grits
  • cheese grits
  • buttered grits
  • bowl of grits
  • grits with gravy
Synonyms
  • polenta

    Italian dish made from cornmeal; similar but from yellow corn and typically firmer

  • porridge

    general term for hot cereal; usually oats-based rather than corn-based

Grammar Patterns

usually plural: 'grits' (treated as singular or plural)

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form 'grits', though the verb can be singular ('Grits is a Southern staple' or 'Grits are served with butter'). More common in American English than in other varieties.

Common Mistakes

I ate grit for breakfast.
I ate grits for breakfast.
This dish is almost always referred to in the plural form 'grits'.

grit — verb

Word family

  • gritty
    adjectiveB2
  • gritter
    nounC1
  • gritless
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Grit, determination, perseverance, resilience, and fortitude all describe the ability to keep going despite difficulty, but each highlights a different aspect. Grit suggests passionate commitment to a long-term goal — staying power that lasts for years through setbacks. Determination is broader, describing a firm decision to achieve something without necessarily involving hardship. Perseverance emphasises continuing step by step through repeated obstacles or failures. Resilience focuses on quickly recovering and bouncing back after a setback, rather than grinding through it. Fortitude is more formal and implies calmly enduring pain or hardship without complaint. For example, an athlete shows determination by training every day, grit by pursuing a ten-year Olympic dream through injuries, perseverance by practising the same skill for months, and resilience by bouncing back after losing a major competition.

determination ↗perseveranceresiliencefortitude

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Grit comes from Old English 'grytt' (bran, coarse meal) and 'greot' (sand, gravel). It is related to the German word 'Grieß', which also means grit or coarse meal. The metaphorical sense of 'courage and endurance' first appeared in American English around 1808, building on the image of something rough and hard that does not break down easily.