English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb

grok

Grok (verb) means to understand (something) intuitively, to know (something) without having to think intellectually.

verb
1
To understand (something) intuitively, to know (something) without having to think intellectually.
2
To fully and completely understand something in all of its details and intricacies.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “grok” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Etymology

Coined by American author and aeronautical engineer Robert A. Heinlein in 1961 in his novel Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein invented the word for his fictitious Martian language. It is described as meaning “to drink” and, figuratively, “to drink in all available aspects of reality”, “to become one with the observed”. William Tenn later asked Heinlein if it could have been inspired by the term griggo, which featured in Tenn's Venus and the Seven Sexes (1949); Heinlein “looked startled, then thought about it for a long time (and) shrugged, (saying) ‘It's possible, very possible.’”

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of grok?

"grok" (verb) means to understand (something) intuitively, to know (something) without having to think intellectually.

What are the different meanings of grok?

"grok" has 2 main meanings: 1. To understand (something) intuitively, to know (something) without having to think intellectually; 2. To fully and completely understand something in all of its details and intricacies.

Definitions from wiktionary, CC BY-SA · etymology from Wiktionary