grail

[greyl] / greɪl /

NOUN

sacred vessel

Synonyms

STRONG

chalice cup

WEAK

holy dish

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for grail?

A grail is a type of cup, chalice, goblet, or vessel. But the word is almost always used to mean the Holy Grail or a holy grail. When capitalized, Holy Grail (or just Grail) refers to the cup that according to medieval legend was used by Jesus at the Last Supper. Due to legends about the cup’s supposed powers, it became the subject of quests by knights who hoped to locate it, including the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. (A somewhat similar legend is that of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold and treasure sought by Spanish colonizers.) This sense of Holy Grail and Grail eventually came to be used (often in lowercase) in a metaphorical way to refer to any greatly desired and sought-after objective, reward, item, or ultimate ideal. For example, a particularly rare book may be called the holy grail of rare book collecting, or winning the World Cup may be called the holy grail of soccer (football). Such things are often described as highly sought-after. A person’s ultimate desire may be called their grail. A similar term is heart’s desire. Similar but less idiomatic terms are ultimate prize and ultimate goal.

Why is the Holy Grail called a grail?

The word grail comes from a Medieval Latin word gradālis, meaning “platter.” At some point, medieval legends started to use the image of a cup (as opposed to a bowl, platter, or other vessel).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The holy grail is a viral sensation online, and millions of dollars in sales.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet for Mr. DeSantis, the hope is simply that his wife can offer a way to secure the holy grail of presidential campaigns: relatability.

From New York Times

“Skills-based hiring is the great white whale, the holy grail of the labor market,” said Joseph Fuller, management professor at Harvard Business School.

From Seattle Times

The mystique has endured long after the vessel, for decades the holy grail of undiscovered shipwrecks, was found on the sea floor in 1985.

From New York Times

They have been called "the grail" of battery development and "the kiss of death" for combustion-engine offerings because of their power and the driving range possible on a single charge.

From Reuters

grail

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