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

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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

Now in her final days at Southern, Beatty will grind through exams and smile for selfies with friends. — Mandy Mclaren, The Courier-Journal, "'We really did it': JCPS' Class of 2019 relied on teacher support to overcome challenges," 4 June 2019 In the factory the 940 passes through a dozen or more different pairs of hands—laser cutting, grinding, coating, assembly, finishing, sharpening, final inspection. — Chuck Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Why Portland, Oregon, is the Knife-making Capital of the U.S.," 25 May 2019 Spinning, grinding, twirling under a giant disco ball. — Jason Sheeler, Vogue, "How George Michael, A Buddhist Monk, and A Stripper Saved My Life," 14 Feb. 2019 Meanwhile, the war grinds on, with no sign that the bloodletting could end anytime soon. — David L. Stern, Washington Post, "War in eastern Ukraine now seems a distant storm to Kiev," 26 June 2018 Both teams grinded through a quiet first half where the Dynamo outshot Minnesota United eight to three. — Houston Chronicle, "Mauro Manotas helps lead Dynamo past Minnesota," 18 June 2018 Ride height has been increased over other McLarens, with a minimum of 4.3 inches of clearance under the car and a 10-degree approach angle beneath the front splitter, reducing anxiety about expensive grinding noises. — Mike Duff, Car and Driver, "The 2020 McLaren GT Is a Mid-Engined Supercar Built for Luxurious Grand Touring," 15 May 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first child is reportedly set to arrive any day now, but that doesn't mean royal duties grind to a halt for the entire family. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Prince William Just Commented on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Baby, Which Is Due Any Day Now," 27 Apr. 2019 There’s skateboard-style grinding mixed with hordes of zombies in a world that’s fun to explore. — Tom Warren, The Verge, "The 10 best games for your new Xbox One," 26 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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 Richard Jerram, Chief Economist, Bank of Singapore, spoke with David Ingles and Doug Krizner on what lies behind the grind higher in bond yields. — Bloomberg.com, "Broad Economic Recovery Seen," 27 Oct. 2017 Air travel can be quite the grind, with outdated terminals, underwhelming food at overwhelming prices, and ample opportunities to see people without shoes on. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "Inside the World’s Best Airport," 28 Mar. 2019 Meanwhile, grind granulated sugar and remaining tablespoon tea in a spice grinder until finely chopped, 15 to 30 seconds. — Kate Merker, Country Living, "Chamomile-Mascarpone Tart With Fresh Strawberries," 19 Mar. 2019 But the knockout round has been an unprecedented grind, with inferior opponents (on paper) taking them to extra time in all three games. — Brian Straus, SI.com, "France vs. Croatia: A First Look at Their World Cup Final Matchup," 11 July 2018 Mostly, Grodner and Cardamone capture how rock ’n’ roll is an unglamorous grind of creative fervor and commercial compromise, where the biggest plans are undone by the need to have flaky musicians execute them. — Noel Murray, latimes.com, "'The Icarus Line Must Die' maintains its punk rock cred," 21 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.