grindstone

noun

grind·​stone ˈgrīn(d)-ˌstōn 

1

: millstone sense 1

2

: a flat circular stone of natural sandstone that revolves on an axle and is used for grinding, shaping, or smoothing

Illustration of grindstone

• grindstone 2

Examples of grindstone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And always remember to keep your eyes on the prize, your nose to the grindstone, your shoulder to the wheel, your hand on the tiller, your face to the wind, your chin up, your ear tothe ground, and your foot on the pedal. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025

A lot of people were struggling here and my team just kept their head to the grindstone and got the job done. —Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

After graduation, everyone faced facts and put their noses to the grindstone and learned hard truths. —Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025

So, what's a 'grindstone' anyway? Grindstones are thick disks of stone — often sandstone — used for grinding, sharpening, or polishing metal objects, or for milling grains into flour. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grindstone

• keep one's nose to the grindstone
• one's nose is to the grindstone

Rhymes for grindstone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

grindstone

noun

grind·​stone ˈgrīn-ˌstōn 

: a stone disk that turns on an axle and is used for grinding or sharpening