adjective
grainy
GRAY-nee
Grainy (adjective) means having a rough, granular texture, made up of small visible particles. Example: “The old photo was dark and grainy.”
adjective
1
Having a rough, granular texture, made up of small visible particles.
"The old photo was dark and grainy."
"The sauce turned out grainy because the sugar didn't fully dissolve."
How to use grainy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRough or coarse-textured, like tiny grains — often used for low-quality images or gritty food textures.
Common pairings
grainy photo
grainy footage
grainy texture
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Word forms
- Comparative
- grainier
- Superlative
- grainiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old photo was dark and _____.
Etymology
From Middle English greyny, from grain plus the adjective suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grainy
See all rhymes for grainy →Frequently asked questions
What does “grainy” mean?
The word “grainy” means having a rough, granular texture, made up of small visible particles. In plain terms, rough or coarse-textured, like tiny grains — often used for low-quality images or gritty food textures.
How do you pronounce “grainy”?
“Grainy” is pronounced GRAY-nee (/ˈɡɹeɪni/ in IPA).
How do you use “grainy” in a sentence?
Here is “grainy” used in a sentence: “The old photo was dark and grainy.”
What part of speech is “grainy”?
“Grainy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “grainy” come from?
The word “grainy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English greyny, from grain plus the adjective suffix -y.
