grail

noun

1
capitalized : the cup or platter used according to medieval legend by Christ at the Last Supper and thereafter the object of knightly quests
2
: the object of an extended or difficult quest

Examples of grail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anyone in our era, that was a holy grail: to get to play college basketball. Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 18 May 2025 The truth is that great institutional shareholders are the holy grail. Cody Slach, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Our beauty test team represents different lip care needs and glam preferences so that you’re equipped with the nitty-gritty details that’ll lead you to your next holy grail lip oil. Claire Sullivan, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2025 The holy grail of prevention would be a model that could pinpoint those who would become homeless, and avoid spending money on those who never would. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grail

Word History

Etymology

Middle English greal, graal, from Middle French, bowl, grail, from Medieval Latin gradalis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grail was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grail. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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