ground
ˈgrau̇nd 
; grinding
; grinding
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
3
4
a
: 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
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
1
a
: an act of grinding
b
: the sound of grinding
2
a
: 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
Synonyms
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
Koh Ewe, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
The sharp edge of the blade works to delicately chop and puree softer foods, while the duller edge is designed to grind through spices and harder, more durable foods.
—Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grind 
Verb
Some people grind the bugs up and mix the powder into bread or use it to garnish the rim of a drink glass, like salt on a margarita.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
The sharp edge of the blade works to delicately chop and puree softer foods, while the duller edge is designed to grind through spices and harder, more durable foods.
—Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grind
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grind
Cite this Entry
“Grind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grind. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grind
1 of 2 verb
ground
ˈgrau̇nd
; grinding
; grinding
1
: to reduce to powder or pieces by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth)
2
: to wear down, polish, or sharpen by friction : whet
3
: to press with a scraping noise : grit
4
5
a
: to operate or produce by turning a crank
b
: to produce by steady hard work
grind out an essay
6
: to move with difficulty or friction especially so as to make a scraping noise
grind the gears
grind
2 of 2 noun1
a
: an act of grinding
b
: the sound of grinding
2
a
: steady hard work
especially
: study that takes much effort
b
: a student who studies too much
3
: the result of grinding
especially
: the size of particle obtained by grinding
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share