grok

term

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Last updated

July 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "grok" means to understand something profoundly and intuitively. Coined by author Robert A. Heinlein in 1961, it implies a deep, almost empathetic comprehension beyond simple knowledge. It suggests an ability to grasp the essence of a subject, as in the human struggle to "grok" one's place in the universe. Related forms include grok, grokked, grokking, and groks.12

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Stranger in a Strange Land
Publication and reception
Heinlein’s coining of the word grok—meaning literally “to drink” but more broadly “to understand profoundly and intuitively”—was later incorporated into English-language dictionaries.
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Heinlein’s coining of the word grok—meaning literally “to drink” but more broadly “to understand profoundly and intuitively”—was later incorporated into English-language dictionaries.
Read More