# grind

/ˈɡɹaɪnd/ (US) · /ɡɹˈaɪnd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to crush into powder

verb · CEFR B1

to crush something, like coffee beans or pepper, into small pieces or powder.

For teachers: to reduce a substance to small particles or powder by crushing it between hard surfaces.

- You should grind the coffee beans just before you brew the coffee for the best flavor.
- The traditional stone mill was used to grind wheat into flour, a process that required significant physical strength and patience.

### 2. to rub together

verb · CEFR B2

to rub two hard surfaces together, often making a sharp or unpleasant noise.

For teachers: to rub two surfaces together with friction, often resulting in a grating sound or wear.

- Some people grind their teeth while they are sleeping because of stress.
- The rusted gears began to grind against each other, producing a high-pitched screech that echoed through the factory.

### 3. to work or study hard

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to work or study very hard for a long time without stopping.

For teachers: to perform repetitive, laborious tasks over a sustained period to achieve a goal.

- She had to grind for weeks to finish her thesis before the deadline.
- In the weeks leading up to the bar exam, he would grind in the library from dawn until well past midnight.

### 4. repetitive gaming

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to perform the same actions many times in a video game to get rewards or level up.

For teachers: to engage in repetitive gameplay loops for the purpose of accumulating experience points or virtual currency.

- I spent all weekend grinding for enough gold to buy the new armor.
- The game's progression system forces players to grind low-level missions for hours to unlock the final boss encounter.

### 5. tiring routine

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a difficult or boring routine that you have to do every day.

For teachers: a laborious or monotonous routine of work or activity.

- The daily grind of commuting to the city can be very exhausting.
- After twenty years in the corporate world, she decided to quit the daily grind and open a small bakery in her hometown.

### 6. texture of powder

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the size of the pieces after something has been crushed.

For teachers: the specific size or texture of particles produced by a grinding process.

- This coffee machine requires a very fine grind to work properly.
- The chef insisted on a coarse grind for the black pepper to provide a more rustic texture to the steak.

### 7. skateboarding trick

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a trick where a skateboarder slides along an edge or a rail.

For teachers: a maneuver in which a skateboard or snowboard slides along an obstacle using the trucks or the board's surface.

- He performed a perfect grind along the handrail in front of the library.
- The skater lost his balance mid-grind and tumbled onto the concrete, narrowly avoiding a serious injury.

## Examples

- The daily grind of the office can be very tiring.
- He spent the entire weekend on the grind, leveling up his character before the new tournament began.
- While the entrepreneurial lifestyle is often romanticized, the reality is a relentless grind of administrative tasks and minor setbacks that test one's long-term commitment to the vision.

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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.