noun
grudge
gruhj
noun
1
A long-held feeling of resentment or ill will toward someone, usually because of a past wrong.
"She still holds a grudge against her old business partner."
"Let it go — there's no point holding a grudge for years."
verb
1
To be reluctant to give or allow something.
"He grudged every penny he had to spend on repairs."
How to Use Grudge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLingering resentment over something someone did to you in the past.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hold a grudge
bear a grudge
Word Forms
grudged past tense, grudges plural, grudges singular
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Etymology
A variant of the older word grutch, from Old French grouchier meaning to grumble or murmur, likely imitative in origin.