Grandmother Meaning
/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðə(r)/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA mother of someone's parent.
nounA female ancestor or progenitor.
Sentence Examples
My youngest brother was brought up by our grandmother.
Tom's grandmother looks healthy.
I always loved going to visit my grandmother.
CEFR Practice Quiz
My ____ taught me to knit as she wore a pearl necklace.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The children loved listening to their ____ tell stories about when she was a little girl living in the countryside.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English graundmodre, grauntmoder, granmoder; equivalent to grand- + mother. Compare French grand-mère. Superseded earlier eldmother, eldermother.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] man may admit that his grandfathers and grandmothers were mon[keys a]nd monkeyesses if he want^([sic]) to; that is his privilege."
— 1923 May 17, “ […] Advertiser and Mr. Bryan”, in The Progressive Age, Scottsboro, Ala.: James S. Benson, page [4]:
""It's a nightingale floor," our grandmother told us. "It warns us of thieves in the night.""
— 2018, Michael Ondaatje, Warlight, →ISBN, page 13:
"“Not only is it showing that the brain of grandmothers is activated with grandparenting, it also shows that the parental brain areas are activated late in life, or perhaps are always activated. Once a mother, always a mother,” Pawluski said."
— 2021 November 19, Madeline Holcombe, “Is your mom warmer with her grandkids than with you? A new study says blame biology”, in CNN:
"Viral YouTuber and grandmother Shirley Curry, better known as ‘Skyrim Grandma’ is finally playing another Bethesda RPG after nine years."
— 2025 June 2, Michael Gwilliam, “89-year-old Skyrim Grandma switches to another RPG after 9 years”, in Dexerto:
""Enter ayahuasca, the mystical grandmother of the psychedelic family, a beacon of profound spiritual experiences""
— 2025, AJ Murillo, The Beginner's Guide to Ego Death Expand Your Mind Through Psychedelic Exploration, →ISBN, page 125:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
My ____ taught me to knit as she wore a pearl necklace.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The children loved listening to their ____ tell stories about when she was a little girl living in the countryside.