# gram

/ˈɡɹæm/ (US) · /ɡɹˈæm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gram
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unit of weight

noun · CEFR A2

a metric unit of weight. There are 1,000 grams in one kilogram.

For teachers: a metric unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a kilogram.

- The recipe says you need 200 grams of sugar for the cake.
- The laboratory scale is sensitive enough to measure a fraction of a gram, ensuring the chemical composition remains precise.

Usage: Often abbreviated as 'g' in recipes and scientific contexts.

### 2. Instagram

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal · Slang

a short, informal name for the social media app Instagram.

For teachers: a colloquial clipping of the proper noun Instagram, referring to the platform or a specific post on it.

- I saw the photos of your holiday on the gram yesterday.
- She spent the entire afternoon editing her travel photos just to ensure they were perfect for the gram.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

### 3. grandmother

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a casual and sweet name for your grandmother.

For teachers: a familiar, colloquial term of address or reference for a grandmother.

- We are going to visit my gram this weekend for her birthday.
- My gram still insists on baking fresh bread every Sunday morning, despite her age and the effort it requires.

### 4. to post on Instagram

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

to post a photo or video on Instagram.

For teachers: to upload content to the Instagram platform; used as a functional shift from the noun.

- Wait, don't eat yet—I need to gram this beautiful meal first.
- The influencers were busy gramming every detail of the launch party to maintain their engagement rates.

### 5. chickpea or pulse

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of seed from a plant that you can eat, like a chickpea.

For teachers: any of several leguminous plants grown for their edible seeds, most notably the chickpea.

- The curry was made with green gram and served with rice.
- The local economy relies heavily on the export of various types of gram, which serve as a primary protein source for the population.

## Examples

- She posted a photo of her lunch on the gram.
- We spent twenty minutes trying to get the perfect lighting for a photo to post on the gram.
- While the platform began as a simple photo-sharing tool, the gram has evolved into a sophisticated marketplace where influencers carefully curate their aesthetic to maintain high engagement rates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.