Grinding is a manner of gaining the access to other features used in video gaming within the game by engaging in repetitive and non-entertaining gameplay. It is common used in the context of MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft, and console role-playing games, such as Dragon Quest. In those games, in order to power up their character level to be able to access newer content, it is often necessary for a character to kill mobs repeatedly by using basically the same strategy over and over again. Other games in which features can be unlocked also can adopt grinding to advance their character level.

Others figurative terms with the same meaning as grinding are treadmilling, pushing the bar and camping. Related terms for grinding include farming which is a term described the process of obtaining items as well as catassing which means extended or obsessive play sessions.

Level treadmill is the most common form for experience points through the practice of killing monsters. By doing so, the player is able to defeat more powerful monsters on the way to the next level.