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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | grimm |
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grim
1 making you feel worried or unhappy [= harsh]: 
the grim reality of rebuilding the shattered townWhen he lost his job, his future looked grim. Millions of Britons face the grim prospect (=something bad that will probably happen) of dearer home loans. We received the grim news in silence.
the grim reality of rebuilding the shattered townWhen he lost his job, his future looked grim.Millions of Britons face the grim prospect (=something bad that will probably happen) of dearer home loans.We received the grim news in silence.2 looking or sounding very serious : 'I'll survive,' he said with a grim smile. The police officers were silent and grim-faced.
'I'll survive,' he said with a grim smile.The police officers were silent and grim-faced.3 British English informal very bad, ugly, or unpleasant : The weather forecast is pretty grim. They painted a grim picture of what life used to be like there. a grim industrial town
The weather forecast is pretty grim.They painted a grim picture of what life used to be like there.a grim industrial town4 [not before noun] informal ill : Juliet felt grim through the early months of her pregnancy.
Juliet felt grim through the early months of her pregnancy.5 to hold something very tightly because you are afraid
hold/hang on for/like grim death
British English informal —grimly adverb: Arnold smiled grimly.
Arnold smiled grimly. —grimness noun [uncountable]
