grail: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Literary / Figurative
Quick answer
What does “grail” mean?
A cup or dish of great significance, especially the Holy Grail, the legendary cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, sought after by medieval knights.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cup or dish of great significance, especially the Holy Grail, the legendary cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, sought after by medieval knights.
Any highly desired, often elusive, goal or object of a prolonged quest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both dialects use the word primarily in its figurative sense.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of a sacred, mystical, or ultimate quest in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to the cultural centrality of the Arthurian legends, but the figurative use is equally common in educated American English.
Grammar
How to Use “grail” in a Sentence
the grail of [NOUN PHRASE]a grail for [PERSON/GROUP]seek/find/pursue the grailVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grail” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard; extremely rare to non-existent as a verb)
American English
- (Not standard; extremely rare to non-existent as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; 'grail-like' is a possible but rare formation)
- The project had a grail-like status within the research community.
American English
- (Not standard; 'grail' is not used as an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Achieving net-zero emissions is the holy grail for the energy sector."
Academic
"The philosopher's stone was the alchemical grail, representing the perfection of matter."
Everyday
"Finding a reliable plumber at short notice is the holy grail of home ownership."
Technical
"In cryptography, creating an unbreakable cipher is considered the grail."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grail”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grail”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grail”
- Using it as a countable plural ('grails' is very rare and usually metaphorical).
- Using it without 'the' or a determiner in its core meaning (e.g., 'He sought grail' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'graile' or 'gral'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is capitalized only when referring specifically to the 'Holy Grail' of Christian/Arthurian legend. In its modern figurative sense ('the grail of physics'), it is lowercase.
Very rarely. The singular form is dominant. A plural might be used in a highly metaphorical context (e.g., 'different researchers pursue different grails'), but 'goals' or 'objectives' is more natural.
In practice, they are often used interchangeably in figurative language. 'Holy grail' is the more common fixed phrase and emphasises the sacred, almost mythical quality of the quest. 'Grail' alone is slightly more formal or literary.
Yes, in its figurative sense, especially with a modifier (e.g., 'a personal grail', 'a scientific grail'). In its original Arthurian sense, it is almost always 'the Grail' or 'the Holy Grail'.
A cup or dish of great significance, especially the Holy Grail, the legendary cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, sought after by medieval knights.
Grail is usually formal / literary / figurative in register.
Grail: in British English it is pronounced /ɡreɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡreɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “holy grail (of something)”
- “quest for the grail”
- “the grail is within reach”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a frail (sounds similar) knight on a long TRAIL, searching for the GRAIL.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DESIRED OBJECT IS A SACRED RELIC; A GOAL IS A DESTINATION ON A QUEST.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'grail' used CORRECTLY in its modern, figurative sense?