grist for one's/the mill

phrase

US
: something that can be used for a particular purpose
Now that he's a writer, he regards his difficult childhood experiences as grist for the mill.

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grist for one's/the mill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grist%20for%20one%27s%2Fthe%20mill. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster