Grit
noun /ɡrɪt/ — Courage and resolve — the ability to keep going when stopping would be easier.
Definition
Courage, resolve, and strength of character — particularly the ability to maintain sustained effort and direction in the face of difficulty, failure, and boredom. Angela Duckworth's research identified grit as a stronger predictor of success than intelligence.
Beyond the definition
Grit is not dramatic. It is not the heroic gesture or the inspiring speech. Grit is showing up again tomorrow, having shown up today, when the outcome is still unclear. It is the least glamorous of the virtues and one of the most necessary.
Origin & history
Old English 'greot' — sand, grit — the abrasive quality of coarse particles. The metaphorical sense (determined character) developed from the physical quality: rough, persistent, resistant.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The project required less intelligence than grit — the willingness to solve the same problem fifteen times.
She had grit in a way that made other forms of talent look optional.
Duckworth's research suggested grit outpredicted IQ in almost every domain that mattered.
Synonyms
determination, perseverance, resolve, tenacity, fortitude
Antonyms
quitting, giving up, fragility
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Recovery in a sunlit conservatory
An adult using a mobility aid looks at a plant that is slowly regrowing after being pruned in a conservatory.
The quiet, deliberate work of recovery, reflected by both the person and the plant, demonstrates grit. It is the sustained, long-term effort to move toward a better state despite the frustration of injury and the slow pace of the healing process.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration