[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/grim/)

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# grim

adjective (grim, grimmer, grimmest)

«grim» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Grim means very serious, stern and unsmiling («a grim face»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#m1)
2. Grim means unpleasant, worrying or sad («grim news»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#m2)
3. A grim place is dark, cold and gloomy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#m3)
4. (UK, informal) Grim means horrible or disgusting («The school toilets were grim»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#m4)
5. «Hold on like grim death» means to hold very tightly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#m5)

### In the lessons

In stories, grim faces and grim weather set a dark mood; the «Grim Reaper» is a picture of death in a hooded cloak with a scythe. In the news, «grim» describes bad news like disasters. In everyday UK talk, «that's grim» means yuck.

### Examples

- The teacher looked grim when she saw the mess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x1)
- The news about the flood was grim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x2)
- The castle was a grim, grey place. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x3)
- The bins smelt grim in the heat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x4)
- He held on to the rope like grim death. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x5)
- The weather forecast is grim for the weekend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x6)
- The Grim Reaper is a spooky picture of death. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x7)
- The princess stood silent, and her face grew grim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/#x8)

### Note

Comparatives double the m: grimmer, grimmest. Not connected with the Brothers Grimm (a name, spelt with two m). Similar: stern, gloomy, bleak.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «grim» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grim/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«grim» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/grim.html) on Mova free.