grok

Grok is a verb meaning to understand something so thoroughly that it becomes part of oneself, or to feel an intuitive, empathetic understanding of a subject or person. The term originated in Robert A. Heinlein's 1961 science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land, where it is described as a Martian word meaning to drink, as in to drink knowledge and experience until one becomes one with it. In the book, grokking conveys a fusion of cognitive comprehension and emotional immersion, often involving a sense of unity with the observed.

In later usage, especially within computing and hacker culture, grok has come to signify deep, instinctual understanding of a system, concept, or code. It is commonly used as a verb, as in "I grok Python" or "to grok the algorithm," and its related noun "grokking" denotes the process of attaining such understanding. The sense in hacker lore emphasizes both intellectual grasp and experiential insight; to grok something is to know it intimately enough to explain it, manipulate it, and predict its behavior.

The term gained popular traction in the 1980s and 1990s through tech writing, forums, and communities, and it persists in programming culture today. While most often found in technical contexts, grok has also entered broader discourse as a shorthand for deep comprehension. See also Stranger in a Strange Land; Jargon File.