grit

The courage and determination to keep trying when things are difficult.

• She showed real grit.
• It took grit to finish the race in that weather.
• Their success came from patience and sheer grit.

Similar words: determination, courage, fortitude

Common phrases: show grit, sheer grit, grit and determination

Very small, hard pieces of stone or sand.

• There is grit in my shoe.
• The wind blew grit into our eyes.
• She brushed the grit off the stone steps.

Similar words: gravel, sand

Common phrases: fine grit, grit in shoes

Crushed corn cooked with water into a thick, soft food, usually called grits.

• She served grits with butter.
• We had shrimp and grits for dinner.
• Do you like cheese in your grits?

Common phrases: grit porridge, grit meal

A mixture of small, hard bits of dirt, stone, or waste from cutting and grinding.

• The machine left grit on the floor.
• Workers swept up the grit after cutting the metal.
• Blasting the wall covered nearby plants with grit.

Common phrases: metal grit, grit and dust

Small, hard pieces in food that cannot be eaten.

• There was grit in the soup.
• Wash the spinach to remove any grit.
• I felt a piece of grit between my teeth.

Common phrases: grit in food, grit between teeth

To press your teeth tightly together because of pain, anger, or determination.

• Grit your teeth and keep going.
• She gritted her teeth as the nurse cleaned the cut.
• He was gritting his teeth to control his anger.

How to use it: grit your teeth (I gritted my teeth and lifted the heavy box.)

Similar words: clench

Common phrases: grit your teeth, grit teeth together

To spread small pieces of stone or a similar mixture on a road so it is less slippery.

• They grit this road every winter.
• The council gritted the pavements before dawn.
• Has anyone gritted the icy bridge?

Common phrases: grit a road, grit the pavement