# grim

/ˈɡɹɪm/ (US) · /ɡɹˈɪm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grim
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. serious and gloomy

adjective · CEFR B2

very serious, gloomy, or worrying.

For teachers: dismal, gloomy, or forbidding in appearance or character.

- The news from the hospital was grim, and the family prepared for the worst.
- The landscape was grim and desolate, with grey clouds hanging low over the abandoned industrial site.

### 2. determined and stern

adjective · CEFR B2

having a very serious and determined expression or attitude.

For teachers: stern, unrelenting, or resolute in a way that suggests a lack of mercy or humor.

- He had a grim look on his face as he walked into the difficult meeting.
- Despite the mounting losses, the commander remained grim and focused on the next phase of the operation.

### 3. disgusting

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

very unpleasant or disgusting to look at, smell, or taste.

For teachers: physically repulsive or disgusting; frequently used in informal British English to describe poor quality or filth.

- The weather today is absolutely grim — it hasn't stopped raining for hours.
- I tried the leftover soup, but it tasted pretty grim after sitting in the fridge for a week.

### 4. ghastly or sinister

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

frightening or shocking, often because it involves death or violence.

For teachers: ghastly, sinister, or macabre in nature.

- The book tells a grim story about the realities of war.
- The crime scene was a grim reminder of the violence that had occurred in the quiet neighborhood.

## Examples

- The weather today is absolutely grim.
- The doctor's face looked grim as he walked into the room to deliver the test results.
- Despite the grim economic forecasts and the rising cost of living, the small community remained determined to keep their local library open through volunteer efforts.

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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.