grim

grim /ɡrɪm/ BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English; Origin: grimm]
1. making you feel worried or unhappy SYN harsh:
the grim reality of rebuilding the shattered town
When 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 child hung on to her arm with grim determination.
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
4. [not before noun] informal ill:
Juliet felt grim through the early months of her pregnancy.
5. hold/hang on for/like grim death British English informal to hold something very tightly because you are afraid

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grim

grim [grim grimmer grimmest] [ɡrɪm] [ɡrɪm] adjective (grim·mer, grim·mest)
1. looking or sounding very serious
• a grim face/look/smile
• She looked grim.
• with a look of grim determination on his face
• He set about the task with grim concentration.

• grim-faced policemen

2. unpleasant and depressing
• grim news
• We face the grim prospect of still higher unemployment.
• Despite the grim forecast, the number of deaths was slightly down on last year.
• The outlook is pretty grim.
• This latest attack is a grim reminder of how vulnerable our airports are to terrorist attack.
• Booth paints a grim picture of life in the next century.
• a grim struggle for survival

• Things are looking grim for workers in the building industry.

3. (of a place or building) not attractive; depressing
• The house looked grim and dreary in the rain.

• the grim walls of the prison

4. not before noun (BrE, informal) ill/sick

• I feel grim this morning.

5. not usually before noun (BrE, informal) of very low quality
• Their performance was fairly grim, I'm afraid!
Idiom: hang on for grim death
Derived Words: grimly ▪ grimness
See also: hang on for dear life
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch grim and German grimm.
Example Bank:
• James had some rather grim news.
• The accident serves as a grim reminder of what drinking and driving can do.
• There was a grim smile on her face as she approached.

• They clung on to the edge of the boat with grim determination.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

grim / ɡrɪm / adjective ( grimmer , grimmest ) (SERIOUS)

C2 worried and serious or sad:

Her face was grim as she told them the bad news.

The expression on his face was one of grim determination .

Later Mr Ashby left the court, grim-faced and silent.

grim / ɡrɪm / adjective ( grimmer , grimmest ) (WITHOUT HOPE)

C2 worrying, without hope:

The future looks grim.

grim / ɡrɪm / adjective ( grimmer , grimmest ) informal (UNPLEASANT)

C2 very unpleasant or ugly:

a grim-looking block of flats

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

grim

[grɪ̱m]
grimmer, grimmest
1) ADJ-GRADED A situation or piece of information that is grim is unpleasant, depressing, and difficult to accept.
  They painted a grim picture of growing crime...
  There was further grim economic news yesterday...
  The mood could not have been grimmer.
  Derived words:
  grimness N-UNCOUNT ...an unrelenting grimness of tone.
2) ADJ-GRADED A place that is grim is unattractive and depressing in appearance.
  The city might be grim at first, but there is a vibrancy and excitement.
  ...the tower blocks on the city's grim edges.
3) ADJ-GRADED If a person or their behaviour is grim, they are very serious, usually because they are worried about something. [WRITTEN]
  She was a stout, grim woman with a turned-down mouth...
  Her expression was grim and unpleasant.
  Derived words:
  grimly ADV-GRADED `It's too late now to stop him,' Harris said grimly.
4) ADJ-GRADED If you say that something is grim, you think that it is very bad, ugly, or depressing. [INFORMAL]
  Things were pretty grim for a time.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grim

grim /ˈgrɪm/ adj grim·mer; -mest
1 : unpleasant or shocking to see or think about
• Hikers made a grim discovery when they came across a dead body in the woods.
• The accident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.
2 : causing feelings of sadness or worry : gloomy or depressing
• a grim winter
• The prognosis is grim—doctors do not expect her to live longer than six months.
• He paints a grim picture of the prospects for peace.
3 : having a very serious appearance or manner
• His face looked grim, and we knew his news wouldn't be good.
• a grim smile
• a grim taskmaster
4 : strongly felt and serious
• grim determination