grind

verb

\ ˈgrīnd

ground\ ˈgrau̇nd

\; grinding

Definition of grind

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth) grind the coffee beans

2 : to wear down, polish, or sharpen by friction grind an ax

3a : oppress, harass tyrants who grind their subjects

b : to weaken or destroy gradually —usually used with down poverty ground her spirit down

4a : to press together with a rotating motion grind the teeth

b : to rub or press harshly ground the cigarette out

5 : to operate or produce by turning a crank grind a hand organ

intransitive verb

1 : to perform the operation of grinding

2 : to become pulverized, polished, or sharpened by friction

3 : to move with difficulty or friction especially so as to make a grating noise gears grinding

4 : drudge especially : to study hard grind for an exam

5 : to rotate the hips in an erotic manner

grind

noun

Definition of grind (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : an act of grinding

b : the sound of grinding

2a : dreary, monotonous, or difficult labor, study, or routine the dull grind of office work

b : one who works or studies excessively a grind who never goes to parties

3 : the result of grinding also : material ground to a particular degree of fineness a drip grind of coffee

4 : an action of rotating the hips in an erotic manner (as in a dance or in a burlesque striptease act) — compare bump entry 1 sense 3

Other Words from grind Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about grind

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for grind

Synonyms: Verb

buff, file, hone, rasp, rub, sand

Synonyms: Noun

creak, jar, rasp, scrape, scratch

Choose the Right Synonym for grind

Noun

work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind mean activity involving effort or exertion. work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force. too tired to do any work labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion. farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering. years of travail were lost when the house burned toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor. his lot would be years of back-breaking toil drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor. an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body. the grind of the assembly line

Examples of grind in a Sentence

Verb

The corn is ground into meal. The steel grinds to a sharp edge. She kept grinding the car's gears. He grinds his teeth in his sleep. I could hear the gears grinding.

Noun

I need a break from the daily grind. the dull grind of office work

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

They get toasted and ground into meal, giving the dough this nutty flavor, deeper color, and that good fat. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, "The Galette That Makes People Think I Work at Bon Appétit or Something," 28 June 2019 Atlanta, Baltimore, and Greenville, N.C. would later grind to a halt after devastating computer outages disrupted everything from the collection of parking tickets to the sale of new homes. — Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "Artificial Intelligence Is About to Make Ransomware Hack Attacks Even Scarier," 21 June 2019 Before becoming a member of BTS, RM was grinding to gain recognition for his rapping skills in local amateur hip-hop circles. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "BTS's RM and Suga Rap About Chasing Your Dreams On New Song With Juice WRLD," 21 June 2019 This searing, unforgettable drama tells the story of a tough-minded but compassionate street kid trying to survive in a world of grinding poverty, abuse and neglect. — Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times, "‘Capernaum’: A street kid in Beirut tries to do the right thing in powerful Oscar-nominated film," 5 Feb. 2019 Almost a third of Salvadorans currently live in the U.S., more than 2 million from a country of 6.3 million, a diaspora fueled by civil war, natural disasters and grinding poverty. — Martha Mendoza, Fox News, "Salvadoran town deeply rooted in DC unfazed by US politics," 21 Aug. 2018 But the first-grader didn't know how much her parents were struggling amid the crime, gang violence and grinding poverty that plagues swaths of Honduras. — Jay Root And Shannon Najmabadi, star-telegram, "'A very cruel punishment': Family split by 'zero tolerance' won't try to cross again," 10 July 2018 Most migrants trying to sneak to the U.S. from Mexico are fleeing gang violence, lack of jobs and grinding poverty in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. — José De Córdoba, WSJ, "Migrants Aren’t an Issue in Mexico’s Presidential Campaign," 26 June 2018 Think breadlines and grinding poverty in the cities and dust bowls in the agricultural areas. — Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express-News, "Think the U.S. is at odds? Consider Greece.," 26 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Patties & Pints serves eight kinds of burgers — made from a custom, Brandt beef grind — nine varieties of deep-dish pizza, 16 beers on tap, 16 in bottles, 17 kinds of ice cream shakes, including seven boozy shakes. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Valley View casino completes $50 million expansion, renovation," 3 July 2019 Signature burgers, 10 of them, are the main item, including the Hot ’n’ Spicy custom blended beef grind with green chiles, jalapeno and Diablo Dust. — Katherine Rodeghier, Dallas News, "St. Petersburg, Fla., goes from senior rest home to hipster hangout," 18 June 2019 Of course, running in those three races at three different distances at three different tracks within the period of five weeks is a grind. — John Cherwa, latimes.com, "Racing! Jon White’s final Belmont Stakes rankings," 7 June 2019 Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions Two friends who love barbecue decided to quit the 9-to-5 grind and turn their hobby into a business — that’s how Proud Souls was born. — Sarah Kuta, The Know, "5 Colorado spots to take BBQ classes so you can become a pitmaster," 6 June 2019 Come see the West abloom at these stunning outdoor oases Public gardens are an escape from the daily grind of driving, working, and hustling. — Dakota Kim, Sunset, "The Best Public Gardens in the West Will Make You Glad to Be Alive in 2019," 22 Jan. 2018 This particular weekend is a good time to get away from the hustle and grind of your work life. — Randon Rosenbohm, Allure, "What June's Capricorn Horoscope Predictions Mean for You," 29 May 2019 But for those without the day off work, like many blue-collar workers, Black Friday marks a two-week grind of intense labor for warehouse workers, cashiers, and couriers, who are often poorly paid or hold precarious contracts with their employers. — Rebekka Ayres, Teen Vogue, "Black Friday, Explained: A Complete History," 23 Nov. 2018 The shop makes chorizo and chicken chorizo ($4.99), sold in bulk instead of links, with a gentle heat and a coarser grind. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Sausage Co. finds a spot in local culture," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grind.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.