grok
Get it deeply
Grok means to understand something so thoroughly that it becomes part of you—not just intellectual comprehension but deep, intuitive grasp.
The word comes from Robert Heinlein's 1961 science fiction novel *Stranger in a Strange Land*, where it's a Martian term.
Programmers and tech enthusiasts adopted it: I finally grok recursion.
To grok something is to get it completely, inside and out.
Grasp the meaning
- graspSeize or understand
- fathomNautical depth unit
- discernPerceive with careful attention
- perceiveBecome conscious of
apprehend · cognize · realize · absorb · assimilate · digest · internalize · get
Perception or judgment
- feelPerceive by touch
- divineOf or from gods
- perceiveBecome conscious of
- pick up onNotice or detect
read · vibe · resonate · attune · channel · commune · connect
Outsider in unfamiliar place
- nestAnimal-built shelter for young
- neologismNewly created expression
- science fictionSpeculative fiction with technological themes
- 1961Early sixties year
Heinlein · counterculture · hippie · communion · fullness · witnessing
Connect or recount
- connectJoin or link
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- emotional understandingPerceiving others' feelings accurately
- bondBinding tie or connection
understand
Grasp the meaning
perceive · apprehend · cognize · realize · absorb · assimilate · digest · internalize · get · follow
sense
Perception or judgment
pick up on · read · vibe · resonate · attune · channel · commune · connect
Stranger in a Strange Land
Outsider in unfamiliar place
- nestAnimal-built shelter for young
- neologismNewly created expression
- science fictionSpeculative fiction with technological themes
Heinlein · 1961 · counterculture · hippie · communion · fullness · witnessing
relate
Connect or recount
- connectJoin or link
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- emotional understandingPerceiving others' feelings accurately
- Sci-Fi/Fantasywand, spell, potion, rune, incantation
- Coined Wordschortle, galumph, nerd, robot, quark
- dev culturedebug, bug, code review, pull request, git
- HeinleinStranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers, Friday
- tech slangnoob, AFK, pwned, IRL, leet
- understandingunderstand, comprehend, grasp, fathom, follow
grokmisunderstand
Grasp incorrectly
misconstrue · misinterpret · misread · misapprehend · misperceive