In this study, both finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental observations were used to investigate the single CBN grain wear in high-speed grinding of Inconel 718 superalloy. The wear characteristics for each grinding pass were numerically assessed utilizing the tensile and compressive strength limits of the cutting grain. Additionally, stress distribution within the grain, chip formation and grinding force evolution during multiple passes were investigated. The combined experimental and numerical results show that the CBN grain wear has two major modes: the macro fracture on the grain top surface propagating from the rake surface, and the micro fracture near the cutting edges. The resultant tensile stress is the main factor inducing grain wear. The cutting edges will be under self-sharpening due to the grain wear. With multiple micro cutting edges engaged in grinding process, the limited material removal region was divided into different sliding, ploughing and cutting dominant regions. Overall, the ratio of material elements removed by a cutting process ranges from 80% to 20%, and continue to decrease during the grinding process. With a stronger effect of the cutting process, larger fluctuation of the grinding force will commence, however its average value remains below that with stronger sliding and ploughing process characteristics.