Meaning of grave in English

1. Pronunciation

   US accent

   How to pronounce grave in American English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

   UK accent

   How to pronounce grave in British English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

1. Verb

   grave

   Etymology

   Old English grafan ‘dig’, of Germanic origin; related to German graben, Dutch graven‘dig’ and German begraben‘bury’, also to grave and groove

   Definitions

   1. shape (a material like stone or wood) by whittling away at it

   Examples

   • « She is sculpting the block of marble into an image of her husband »
2. 2. carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface

   Examples

   • « engrave a pen »
   • « engraved the winner's name onto the trophy cup »

3. Classifying Adjective

   grave

   Definitions

   1. dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

   Examples

   • « a grave God-fearing man »
   • « a quiet sedate nature »
   • « as sober as a judge »
   • « a solemn promise »
   • « the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence »

   Synonyms

   • serious
4. 2. causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

   Examples

   • « a dangerous operation »
   • « a grave situation »
   • « a grave illness »
   • « grievous bodily harm »
   • « a serious wound »
   • « a serious turn of events »
   • « a severe case of pneumonia »
   • « a life-threatening disease »

   Synonyms

   • critical
5. 3. of great gravity or crucial import

   Examples

   • « requiring serious thought »
   • « grave responsibilities »
   • « faced a grave decision in a time of crisis »
   • « a grievous fault »
   • « heavy matters of state »
   • « the weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference »

   Synonyms

   • important
   • of import

6. Noun

   grave

   Etymology

   Old English græf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch graf and German Grab

   Definitions

   1. death of a person

   Examples

   • « he went to his grave without forgiving me »
   • « from cradle to grave »
7. 2. a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)

   Examples

   • « he put flowers on his mother's grave »
8. 3. a mark (`) placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation