diff --git a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind.lean b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind.lean
index d6999c0867..d389fa19e9 100644
--- a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind.lean
+++ b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind.lean
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.ematch
 builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.ematch.pattern
 builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.ematch.instance
 builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.ematch.instance.assignment
+builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.ematch.instance.delayed
 builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.eqResolution
 builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.issues
 builtin_initialize registerTraceClass `grind.simp
diff --git a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Core.lean b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Core.lean
index 7940806d95..31f30c8c95 100644
--- a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Core.lean
+++ b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Core.lean
@@ -240,6 +240,16 @@ where
         propagateDown e
       propagateUnitConstFuns lams₁ lams₂
       toPropagateSolvers.propagate
+      if rhsNode.root.isTrue then
+        checkDelayedThmInsts toPropagateDown
+  checkDelayedThmInsts (toPropagateDown : List Expr) : GoalM Unit := do
+    if (← isInconsistent) then return ()
+    if (← get).delayedThmInsts.isEmpty then return ()
+    for e in toPropagateDown do
+      let some delayedThms := (← get).delayedThmInsts.find? { expr := e } | pure ()
+      modify fun s => { s with delayedThmInsts := s.delayedThmInsts.erase { expr := e } }
+      delayedThms.forM (·.check)
+
   updateRoots (lhs : Expr) (rootNew : Expr) : GoalM Unit := do
     let isFalseRoot ← isFalseExpr rootNew
     traverseEqc lhs fun n => do
diff --git a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/EMatch.lean b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/EMatch.lean
index 0a8934bf9a..dd2e364cff 100644
--- a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/EMatch.lean
+++ b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/EMatch.lean
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ macro "reportEMatchIssue!" s:(interpolatedStr(term) <|> term) : doElem => do
 Stores new theorem instance in the state.
 Recall that new instances are internalized later, after a full round of ematching.
 -/
-private def addNewInstance (thm : EMatchTheorem) (proof : Expr) (generation : Nat) : M Unit := do
+private def addNewInstance (thm : EMatchTheorem) (proof : Expr) (generation : Nat) (guards : List TheoremGuard) : M Unit := do
   let proof ← instantiateMVars proof
   if grind.debug.proofs.get (← getOptions) then
     check proof
@@ -499,8 +499,7 @@ where
       -- We must add a hint because `annotateEqnTypeConds` introduces `Grind.PreMatchCond`
       -- which is not reducible.
       proof := mkExpectedPropHint proof prop
-    trace_goal[grind.ematch.instance] "{thm.origin.pp}: {prop}"
-    addTheoremInstance thm proof prop (generation+1)
+    addTheoremInstance thm proof prop (generation+1) guards
 
 private def synthesizeInsts (mvars : Array Expr) (bis : Array BinderInfo) : OptionT M Unit := do
   let thm := (← read).thm
@@ -741,7 +740,33 @@ private def checkConstraints (thm : EMatchTheorem) (gen : Nat) (proof : Expr) (a
       It may be useful to bound the number of instances in the current branch.
       -/
       return (← getEMatchTheoremNumInstances thm) + 1 < n
-    | _ => throwError "NIY"
+    | .check _ | .guard _ => return true
+
+private def collectGuards (thm : EMatchTheorem) (proof : Expr) (args : Array Expr) : GoalM (List TheoremGuard) := do
+  if thm.cnstrs.isEmpty then return []
+  /- **Note**: Only top-level theorems have constraints. -/
+  let .const declName us := proof | return []
+  unless thm.cnstrs.any fun c => c matches .check _ | .guard _ do return []
+  let info ← getConstInfo declName
+  let mut result := #[]
+  let applySubst (e : Expr) : GoalM (Option Expr) := do
+    let e := e.instantiateRev args
+    let e := e.instantiateLevelParams info.levelParams us
+    let e ← instantiateMVars e
+    if e.hasMVar then
+      reportIssue! "guard for `{thm.origin.pp}` was skipped because it contains metavariables after theorem instantiation{indentExpr e}"
+      return none
+    return some e
+  for cnstr in thm.cnstrs do
+    match cnstr with
+    | .check e =>
+      let some e ← applySubst e | pure ()
+      result := result.push <| { e, check := true }
+    | .guard e =>
+      let some e ← applySubst e | pure ()
+      result := result.push <| { e, check := false }
+    | _ => pure ()
+  return result.toList
 
 /--
 After processing a (multi-)pattern, use the choice assignment to instantiate the proof.
@@ -762,15 +787,16 @@ private partial def instantiateTheorem (c : Choice) : M Unit := withDefault do w
   let (some _, c) ← applyAssignment mvars |>.run c | return ()
   let some _ ← synthesizeInsts mvars bis | return ()
   if (← checkConstraints thm c.gen proof mvars) then
+    let guards ← collectGuards thm proof mvars
     let proof := mkAppN proof mvars
     if (← mvars.allM (·.mvarId!.isAssigned)) then
-      addNewInstance thm proof c.gen
+      addNewInstance thm proof c.gen guards
     else
       let mvars ← mvars.filterM fun mvar => return !(← mvar.mvarId!.isAssigned)
       if let some mvarBad ← mvars.findM? fun mvar => return !(← isProof mvar) then
         reportEMatchIssue! "failed to instantiate {thm.origin.pp}, failed to instantiate non propositional argument with type{indentExpr (← inferType mvarBad)}"
       let proof ← mkLambdaFVars (binderInfoForMVars := .default) mvars (← instantiateMVars proof)
-      addNewInstance thm proof c.gen
+      addNewInstance thm proof c.gen guards
 
 /-- Process choice stack until we don't have more choices to be processed. -/
 private def processChoices : M Unit := do
@@ -891,8 +917,19 @@ Recall that the mapping is nonempty only if tracing is enabled.
 -/
 def ematch' (extraThms : Array EMatchTheorem := #[]) : GoalM (Bool × InstanceMap) := do
   let numInstances := (← get).ematch.numInstances
+  let numDelayedInstances := (← get).ematch.numDelayedInstances
   let map ← ematchCore extraThms
-  return ((← get).ematch.numInstances != numInstances, map)
+  let progress :=
+    (← get).ematch.numInstances != numInstances
+    ||
+    (← get).ematch.numDelayedInstances != numDelayedInstances
+  if (← get).ematch.numDelayedInstances != numDelayedInstances then
+    /-
+    **Note**: If delayed instances were produced, new guards may have been internalized,
+    and we may have pending facts to process.
+    -/
+    processNewFacts
+  return (progress, map)
 
 /--
 Performs one round of E-matching, and returns `true` if new instances were generated.
diff --git a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Parser.lean b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Parser.lean
index f4e6bc0aa6..726cc9d42e 100644
--- a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Parser.lean
+++ b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Parser.lean
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ end GrindCnstr
 open GrindCnstr in
 def grindPatternCnstr : Parser :=
   isValue <|> isStrictValue <|> isGround <|> sizeLt <|> depthLt <|> genLt <|> maxInsts
-  <|> guard <|> check <|> notDefEq <|> defEq
+  <|> guard <|> GrindCnstr.check <|> notDefEq <|> defEq
 
 def grindPatternCnstrs : Parser := leading_parser "where " >> many1Indent (ppLine >> grindPatternCnstr)
 
diff --git a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Simp.lean b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Simp.lean
index f47df0f7ff..6ec842a598 100644
--- a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Simp.lean
+++ b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Simp.lean
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ def dsimpCore (e : Expr) : GrindM Expr := do profileitM Exception "grind dsimp"
 Preprocesses `e` using `grind` normalization theorems and simprocs,
 and then applies several other preprocessing steps.
 -/
-def preprocess (e : Expr) : GoalM Simp.Result := do
+@[export lean_grind_preprocess]
+def preprocessImpl (e : Expr) : GoalM Simp.Result := do
   let e ← instantiateMVars e
   let r ← simpCore e
   /-
diff --git a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Types.lean b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Types.lean
index ed1f53ec3d..abd4c60f3a 100644
--- a/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Types.lean
+++ b/src/Lean/Meta/Tactic/Grind/Types.lean
@@ -121,17 +121,20 @@ inductive SplitSource where
     input
   | /-- Injectivity theorem. -/
     inj (origin : Origin)
+  | /-- `grind_pattern` guard -/
+    guard (origin : Origin)
   deriving Inhabited
 
 def SplitSource.toMessageData : SplitSource → MessageData
-  | .ematch origin => m!"E-matching {origin.pp}"
-  | .ext declName => m!"Extensionality {declName}"
+  | .ematch origin => m!"E-matching `{origin.pp}`"
+  | .guard origin => m!"Theorem instantiation guard for `{origin.pp}`"
+  | .ext declName => m!"Extensionality `{declName}`"
   | .mbtc a b i => m!"Model-based theory combination at argument #{i} of{indentExpr a}\nand{indentExpr b}"
   | .beta e => m!"Beta-reduction of{indentExpr e}"
   | .forallProp e => m!"Forall propagation at{indentExpr e}"
   | .existsProp e => m!"Exists propagation at{indentExpr e}"
   | .input => "Initial goal"
-  | .inj origin => m!"Injectivity {origin.pp}"
+  | .inj origin => m!"Injectivity `{origin.pp}`"
 
 /-- Context for `GrindM` monad. -/
 structure Context where
@@ -762,8 +765,10 @@ structure EMatch.State where
   thms         : PArray EMatchTheorem := {}
   /-- Active theorems that we have not performed any round of ematching yet. -/
   newThms      : PArray EMatchTheorem := {}
-  /-- Number of theorem instances generated so far -/
+  /-- Number of theorem instances generated so far. -/
   numInstances : Nat := 0
+  /-- Number of delayed theorem instances generated so far. We track them to decide whether E-match made progress or not. -/
+  numDelayedInstances : Nat := 0
   /-- Number of E-matching rounds performed in this goal since the last case-split. -/
   num          : Nat := 0
   /-- (pre-)instances found so far. It includes instances that failed to be instantiated. -/
@@ -900,6 +905,30 @@ structure Injective.State where
   fns  : PHashMap ExprPtr InjectiveInfo := {}
   deriving Inhabited
 
+/--
+Users can attach guards to `grind_pattern`s. A guard ensures that a theorem is instantiated
+ only when the guard expression becomes provably true.
+
+If `check` is `true`, then `grind` attempts to prove `e` by asserting its negation and
+checking whether this leads to a contradiction.
+-/
+structure TheoremGuard where
+  e     : Expr
+  check : Bool
+  deriving Inhabited
+
+/--
+A delayed theorem instantiation is an instantiation that includes one or more guards.
+See `TheoremGuard`.
+-/
+structure DelayedTheoremInstance where
+  thm        : EMatchTheorem
+  proof      : Expr
+  prop       : Expr
+  generation : Nat
+  guards     : List TheoremGuard
+  deriving Inhabited
+
 /-- The `grind` goal. -/
 structure Goal where
   mvarId       : MVarId
@@ -936,6 +965,11 @@ structure Goal where
   clean        : Clean.State := {}
   /-- Solver states. -/
   sstates      : Array SolverExtensionState := #[]
+  /--
+  Delayed instantiations is a mapping from guards to theorems that are waiting them
+  to become `True`.
+  -/
+  delayedThmInsts : PHashMap ExprPtr (List DelayedTheoremInstance) := {}
   deriving Inhabited
 
 def Goal.hasSameRoot (g : Goal) (a b : Expr) : Bool :=
@@ -1001,12 +1035,6 @@ def addNewRawFact (proof : Expr) (prop : Expr) (generation : Nat) (splitSource :
 def getNumTheoremInstances : GoalM Nat := do
   return (← get).ematch.numInstances
 
-/-- Adds a new theorem instance produced using E-matching. -/
-def addTheoremInstance (thm : EMatchTheorem) (proof : Expr) (prop : Expr) (generation : Nat) : GoalM Unit := do
-  saveEMatchTheorem thm
-  addNewRawFact proof prop generation (.ematch thm.origin)
-  modify fun s => { s with ematch.numInstances := s.ematch.numInstances + 1 }
-
 /-- Returns `true` if the maximum number of instances has been reached. -/
 def checkMaxInstancesExceeded : GoalM Bool := do
   return (← get).ematch.numInstances >= (← getConfig).instances
@@ -1316,13 +1344,17 @@ It assumes `a` and `b` are in the same equivalence class.
 @[extern "lean_grind_mk_heq_proof"]
 opaque mkHEqProof (a b : Expr) : GoalM Expr
 
+-- Forward definition
+@[extern "lean_grind_process_new_facts"]
+opaque processNewFacts : GoalM Unit
+
 -- Forward definition
 @[extern "lean_grind_internalize"]
 opaque internalize (e : Expr) (generation : Nat) (parent? : Option Expr := none) : GoalM Unit
 
 -- Forward definition
-@[extern "lean_grind_process_new_facts"]
-opaque processNewFacts : GoalM Unit
+@[extern "lean_grind_preprocess"]
+opaque preprocess : Expr → GoalM Simp.Result
 
 /--
 Internalizes a local declaration which is not a proposition.
@@ -1589,6 +1621,45 @@ def addSplitCandidate (sinfo : SplitInfo) : GoalM Unit := do
     }
     updateSplitArgPosMap sinfo
 
+inductive ActivateNextGuardResult where
+  | ready
+  | next (guard : Expr) (pending : List TheoremGuard)
+
+def activateNextGuard (thm : EMatchTheorem) (guards : List TheoremGuard) (generation : Nat) : GoalM ActivateNextGuardResult := do
+  go guards
+where
+  go : List TheoremGuard → GoalM ActivateNextGuardResult
+    | [] => return .ready
+    | guard :: guards => do
+      let { expr := e, .. } ← preprocess guard.e
+      internalize e generation
+      if (← isEqTrue e) then
+        go guards
+      else
+        if guard.check then
+          addSplitCandidate <| .default e (.guard thm.origin)
+        return .next e guards
+
+/-- Adds a new theorem instance produced using E-matching. -/
+def addTheoremInstance (thm : EMatchTheorem) (proof : Expr) (prop : Expr) (generation : Nat) (guards : List TheoremGuard) : GoalM Unit := do
+  match (← activateNextGuard thm guards generation) with
+  | .ready =>
+    trace_goal[grind.ematch.instance] "{thm.origin.pp}: {prop}"
+    saveEMatchTheorem thm
+    addNewRawFact proof prop generation (.ematch thm.origin)
+    modify fun s => { s with ematch.numInstances := s.ematch.numInstances + 1 }
+  | .next guard guards =>
+    let thms := (← get).delayedThmInsts.find? { expr := guard } |>.getD []
+    let thms := { thm, proof, prop, generation, guards } :: thms
+    trace_goal[grind.ematch.instance.delayed] "`{thm.origin.pp}` waiting{indentExpr guard}"
+    modify fun s => { s with
+      delayedThmInsts := s.delayedThmInsts.insert { expr := guard } thms
+      ematch.numDelayedInstances := s.ematch.numDelayedInstances + 1
+    }
+
+def DelayedTheoremInstance.check (delayed : DelayedTheoremInstance) : GoalM Unit := do
+  addTheoremInstance delayed.thm delayed.proof delayed.prop delayed.generation delayed.guards
+
 /--
 Returns extensionality theorems for the given type if available.
 If `Config.ext` is `false`, the result is `#[]`.
diff --git a/tests/lean/run/grind_pattern_cnstr_2.lean b/tests/lean/run/grind_pattern_cnstr_2.lean
index 59122935b8..d14abaf93e 100644
--- a/tests/lean/run/grind_pattern_cnstr_2.lean
+++ b/tests/lean/run/grind_pattern_cnstr_2.lean
@@ -155,3 +155,141 @@ example
   grind
 
 end Ex8
+
+namespace Ex9
+
+opaque f : Nat → Nat → Nat
+axiom fax : x ≠ y → f x y > 0
+
+grind_pattern fax => f x y where
+  guard x ≠ y
+
+/--
+trace: [grind.ematch.instance.delayed] `fax` waiting
+      ¬x = y
+-/
+#guard_msgs (trace, drop error) in
+example : f x y = 5 → False := by
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance true in
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance.delayed true in
+ grind
+
+
+/--
+trace: [grind.ematch.instance.delayed] `fax` waiting
+      ¬x = y
+[grind.ematch.instance] fax: x ≠ y → f x y > 0
+-/
+#guard_msgs in
+example : x ≠ y → f x y = 0 → False := by
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance true in
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance.delayed true in
+ grind
+
+end Ex9
+
+namespace Ex10
+
+opaque f : Nat → Nat → Nat
+axiom fax : x = y → f x y > 0
+
+grind_pattern fax => f x y where
+  check x = y
+
+/--
+trace: [grind.ematch.instance.delayed] `fax` waiting
+      x = y
+[grind.split] x = y, generation: 1
+[grind.ematch.instance] fax: x = y → f x y > 0
+-/
+#guard_msgs (drop error, trace) in
+example : f x y = 0 → False := by
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance true in
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance.delayed true in
+ set_option trace.grind.split true in
+ grind
+
+end Ex10
+
+namespace Ex11
+
+opaque f : Nat → Nat → Nat
+axiom fax : x = y → f x y > 0
+
+grind_pattern fax => f x y where
+  guard x = y
+
+-- `grind` will not case-split on `x = y` since `guard` was used instead of `check`
+/--
+trace: [grind.ematch.instance.delayed] `fax` waiting
+      x = y
+-/
+#guard_msgs (drop error, trace) in
+example : f x y = 0 → False := by
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance true in
+ set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance.delayed true in
+ set_option trace.grind.split true in
+ grind
+
+end Ex11
+
+namespace Ex12
+
+opaque f : Nat → Nat
+axiom fMono : x ≤ y → f x ≤ f y
+grind_pattern fMono => f x, f y
+
+-- Many unnecessary instances were generated.
+/--
+trace: [grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f a ≤ b → f (f a) ≤ f b
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f a ≤ c → f (f a) ≤ f c
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f a ≤ a → f (f a) ≤ f a
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f a ≤ f (f a) → f (f a) ≤ f (f (f a))
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f a ≤ f a → f (f a) ≤ f (f a)
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f (f a) ≤ b → f (f (f a)) ≤ f b
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f (f a) ≤ c → f (f (f a)) ≤ f c
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f (f a) ≤ a → f (f (f a)) ≤ f a
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f (f a) ≤ f (f a) → f (f (f a)) ≤ f (f (f a))
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f (f a) ≤ f a → f (f (f a)) ≤ f (f a)
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ b → f a ≤ f b
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ c → f a ≤ f c
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ a → f a ≤ f a
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ f (f a) → f a ≤ f (f (f a))
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ f a → f a ≤ f (f a)
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: c ≤ b → f c ≤ f b
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: c ≤ c → f c ≤ f c
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: c ≤ a → f c ≤ f a
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: c ≤ f (f a) → f c ≤ f (f (f a))
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: c ≤ f a → f c ≤ f (f a)
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: b ≤ b → f b ≤ f b
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: b ≤ c → f b ≤ f c
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: b ≤ a → f b ≤ f a
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: b ≤ f (f a) → f b ≤ f (f (f a))
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: b ≤ f a → f b ≤ f (f a)
+-/
+#guard_msgs in
+example : f b = f c → a ≤ f a → f (f a) ≤ f (f (f a)) := by
+  set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance true in
+  grind
+
+end Ex12
+
+namespace Ex13
+-- Same example but using constraints to control theorem/axiom instantiation
+opaque f : Nat → Nat
+axiom fMono : x ≤ y → f x ≤ f y
+grind_pattern fMono => f x, f y where
+  guard x ≤ y
+  x =/= y
+
+/--
+trace: [grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ f a → f a ≤ f (f a)
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: f a ≤ f (f a) → f (f a) ≤ f (f (f a))
+[grind.ematch.instance] fMono: a ≤ f (f a) → f a ≤ f (f (f a))
+-/
+#guard_msgs in
+example : f b = f c → a ≤ f a → f (f a) ≤ f (f (f a)) := by
+  set_option trace.grind.ematch.instance true in
+  grind
+
+end Ex13