<p>Grinding is typically the final operation in many manufacturing chains owing to its ability to achieve high surface quality. However, any failure in this process can lead to irreparable damage to the workpiece and increased costs. Reliable, online, and onsite monitoring techniques must be implemented to avoid these problems. Over the past decades, various technologies have been developed to monitor grinding processes, utilizing a range of signals. Among these, acoustic emission (AE) has demonstrated significant advantages, including high sensitivity to fine dynamic interactions between the grinding wheel and workpiece, as well as excellent performance in filtering mechanical noise. Consequently, AE is widely recognized as one of the most effective monitoring and detection methods in grinding. However, comprehensive literature reviews on AE monitoring in grinding remain scarce. This paper provides an overview of the history and sources of AE monitoring in grinding. Subsequently, it outlines the process of AE monitoring in grinding and introduces different methods applied in AE monitoring. Lastly, research gaps and future trends for the applications of AE monitoring in grinding are highlighted. Overall, this paper systematically summarizes the monitoring system, analysis methods, and practical applications of AE in grinding, while also identifying knowledge gaps and scope for future work.</p>