Grail
noun
An ultimate goal that is pursued as in a quest.
Finding a cure for cancer is considered the holy grail of medical research.
Often appears as...
- holy grail
- pursuit of the grail
Usage tips
Formal
noun
In Christian tradition, the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers.
The grail is often portrayed in literature as a sacred object.
Often appears as...
- holy grail
- quest for the grail
Usage tips
Religious
noun
An ultimate goal that is pursued as in a quest.
Finding a cure for cancer is considered the holy grail of medical research.
Often appears as...
- holy grail
- pursuit of the grail
Usage tips
Formal
noun
In Christian tradition, the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers.
The grail is often portrayed in literature as a sacred object.
Often appears as...
- holy grail
- quest for the grail
Usage tips
Religious
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Ultimate Aspiration
Often conveys a lofty or ambitious goal, sometimes considered unattainable or requiring great effort.
Winning the Nobel Prize is the grail for many scientists.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Metaphor
Used metaphorically in various contexts, drawing on the legendary status to imply a revered quest.
For a mountaineer, summiting Everest is the grail.
Pro Tip 3/3Intense Dedication
'Pursuit of the grail’ suggests a passionate, sometimes lifelong commitment to a goal.
Her grail was to become an Olympic champion.
Pro Tip 1/3Ultimate Aspiration
Often conveys a lofty or ambitious goal, sometimes considered unattainable or requiring great effort.
Winning the Nobel Prize is the grail for many scientists.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Metaphor
Used metaphorically in various contexts, drawing on the legendary status to imply a revered quest.
For a mountaineer, summiting Everest is the grail.
Pro Tip 3/3Intense Dedication
'Pursuit of the grail’ suggests a passionate, sometimes lifelong commitment to a goal.
Her grail was to become an Olympic champion.
Pro Tip 1/3Ultimate Aspiration
Often conveys a lofty or ambitious goal, sometimes considered unattainable or requiring great effort.
Winning the Nobel Prize is the grail for many scientists.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Metaphor
Used metaphorically in various contexts, drawing on the legendary status to imply a revered quest.
For a mountaineer, summiting Everest is the grail.
Pro Tip 3/3Intense Dedication
'Pursuit of the grail’ suggests a passionate, sometimes lifelong commitment to a goal.
Her grail was to become an Olympic champion.
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Video examples
Killer Whales Working...
the most astounding experience i've ever had probably in my life was traveling down to the antarctic peninsula to film the killer whales for frozen planets it was just the most remarkable experience we were down there to try to find a holy grail sequence something that has been talked about for years and years but no one ever really knew if it was something
Video examples
Filming Birds of...
it was for planet earth one and birds of paradise always a kind of a holy grail subject for wildlife cameramen these are famously difficult birds they're relentlessly hunted they're nervous they're in the crow family they're incredibly clever and yeah they were definitely going to
Video examples
ONE HOUR Of Amazing...
the most astounding experience i've ever had probably in my life was traveling down to the antarctic peninsula to film the killer whales for frozen planets it was just the most remarkable experience we were down there to try to find a holy grail sequence something that has been
Video examples
Protecting the Hooded...
i don't know what they're proving it's brilliant we're trying to work it out at the minute the holy grail is a very iconic very emblematic species maybe not to the world but yes to this part of of argentina and patagonia it's an endemic species just to this province
Video examples
How Benjamin Button got...
holy grail of our our industry and the fact that this guy is a global icon didn't help either because I'm sure if anybody ever stand in line at the grocery store you know we see his face constantly so there really was no tolerable margin of error there were two
Video examples
Elon Musk: A future...
So the holy grail of rocketry or space transport is full and rapid reusability. This has never been achieved. The closest that anything has come is our Falcon 9 rocket, where we are able to recover the first stage, the boost stage,
Video examples
A funny look at the...
the one thing though that is very disappointing about robotics is the holy grail of robotics and it hasn't even happened I'm talking about the robot girlfriend I'm sorry the dream of one lonely geek in a
Video examples
Remove the Dams to Save...
grail of salmon recovery this would be the biggest watershed restoration in North America not on earth if we did this it's the largest possible salmon recovery venture of which humanity is
Video examples
Life on Venus PIPE National...
cloud we may have to wait years but someday another mission to Venus may find the holy grail of space life beyond our world
Video examples
Macaroni Penguins Swim,...
this place is the holy grail of wildlife filmmaking as at this time of year it's home to one of the highest
Video examples
Killer Whales Working...
the most astounding experience i've ever had probably in my life was traveling down to the antarctic peninsula to film the killer whales for frozen planets it was just the most remarkable experience we were down there to try to find a holy grail sequence something that has been talked about for years and years but no one ever really knew if it was something
Video examples
Filming Birds of...
it was for planet earth one and birds of paradise always a kind of a holy grail subject for wildlife cameramen these are famously difficult birds they're relentlessly hunted they're nervous they're in the crow family they're incredibly clever and yeah they were definitely going to
Video examples
ONE HOUR Of Amazing...
the most astounding experience i've ever had probably in my life was traveling down to the antarctic peninsula to film the killer whales for frozen planets it was just the most remarkable experience we were down there to try to find a holy grail sequence something that has been
Video examples
Protecting the Hooded...
i don't know what they're proving it's brilliant we're trying to work it out at the minute the holy grail is a very iconic very emblematic species maybe not to the world but yes to this part of of argentina and patagonia it's an endemic species just to this province
Video examples
How Benjamin Button got...
holy grail of our our industry and the fact that this guy is a global icon didn't help either because I'm sure if anybody ever stand in line at the grocery store you know we see his face constantly so there really was no tolerable margin of error there were two
Video examples
Elon Musk: A future...
So the holy grail of rocketry or space transport is full and rapid reusability. This has never been achieved. The closest that anything has come is our Falcon 9 rocket, where we are able to recover the first stage, the boost stage,
Video examples
A funny look at the...
the one thing though that is very disappointing about robotics is the holy grail of robotics and it hasn't even happened I'm talking about the robot girlfriend I'm sorry the dream of one lonely geek in a
Video examples
Remove the Dams to Save...
grail of salmon recovery this would be the biggest watershed restoration in North America not on earth if we did this it's the largest possible salmon recovery venture of which humanity is
Video examples
Life on Venus PIPE National...
cloud we may have to wait years but someday another mission to Venus may find the holy grail of space life beyond our world
Video examples
Macaroni Penguins Swim,...
this place is the holy grail of wildlife filmmaking as at this time of year it's home to one of the highest
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
When I first went to Hubble, as an astronomer and as a scientist, it was a dream come true. And as an astronaut, the Hubble missions are premiere missions because Hubble is so important to science, so important to humanity, that it's just a very special event. But as an astronomer, it was sort of the holy grail of missions.
Quote examples
Jake Arrieta
American Athlete
You want to be the team that is on the field when the last out is made on the winning side. That's obviously the holy grail in the game that I play, and that's what every player strives for.
Quote examples
Glen Mazzara
American Producer
That's the holy grail as a TV writer, to work on a story that you care about and to put it out there and for it to find the audience and connect with fans and connect with critics.
Quote examples
Noah Hawley
American Producer
It used to be for writers that that six seasons and a movie thing, that's the holy grail as writers - your series goes eight, 10 seasons, you're set for life.
Quote examples
Lucas Hedges
American Actor
I grew up in a film-loving family. We watched the Oscars every year. My favorite thing in the whole world was film. The Oscars obviously was the holy grail.
Quote examples
Jeanette Winterson
British Novelist
Quest is at the heart of what I do-the holy grail, and the terror that you'll never find it, seemed a perfect metaphor for life.
Quote examples
Laeta Kalogridis
American Producer
To be a working writer is the holy grail, where you don't have three other jobs on top of that.
Quote examples
Geoffrey Hinton
British Psychologist
In A.I., the holy grail was how do you generate internal representations.
Quote examples
Cheyenne Jackson
American Actor
30 Rock' is the holy grail of comedy in my opinion.
Quote examples
Shangela
American Entertainer
RuPaul's Drag Race' is the holy grail of drag.
Quote examples
John M. Grunsfeld
American Astronaut
When I first went to Hubble, as an astronomer and as a scientist, it was a dream come true. And as an astronaut, the Hubble missions are premiere missions because Hubble is so important to science, so important to humanity, that it's just a very special event. But as an astronomer, it was sort of the holy grail of missions.
Quote examples
Jake Arrieta
American Athlete
You want to be the team that is on the field when the last out is made on the winning side. That's obviously the holy grail in the game that I play, and that's what every player strives for.
Quote examples
Glen Mazzara
American Producer
That's the holy grail as a TV writer, to work on a story that you care about and to put it out there and for it to find the audience and connect with fans and connect with critics.
Quote examples
Noah Hawley
American Producer
It used to be for writers that that six seasons and a movie thing, that's the holy grail as writers - your series goes eight, 10 seasons, you're set for life.
Quote examples
Lucas Hedges
American Actor
I grew up in a film-loving family. We watched the Oscars every year. My favorite thing in the whole world was film. The Oscars obviously was the holy grail.
Quote examples
Jeanette Winterson
British Novelist
Quest is at the heart of what I do-the holy grail, and the terror that you'll never find it, seemed a perfect metaphor for life.
Quote examples
Laeta Kalogridis
American Producer
To be a working writer is the holy grail, where you don't have three other jobs on top of that.
Quote examples
Geoffrey Hinton
British Psychologist
In A.I., the holy grail was how do you generate internal representations.
Quote examples
Cheyenne Jackson
American Actor
30 Rock' is the holy grail of comedy in my opinion.
Quote examples
Shangela
American Entertainer
RuPaul's Drag Race' is the holy grail of drag.
Example 1 of 10
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