gravy

noun

gra·​vy ˈgrā-vē 

plural gravies

1

: a sauce made from the thickened and seasoned juices of cooked meat

2

a

: something additional or unexpected that is pleasing or valuable

… with expenses now paid, future money is pure gravy.

—K. Crossen

b

: unearned or illicit gain : graft entry 3

Synonyms of gravy

• sauce

Examples of gravy in a Sentence

The bonus he received in addition to his salary was pure gravy.

order a large serving of fries with extra gravy

Recent Examples on the Web

Cooked rice in a plastic container and country gravy were held above proper cold holding temperature. — Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Crawfish étouffée, the Cajun dish made by his dad, John Jefferson, features crawfish tails in a flavorful, buttery gravy served over rice. — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026

Served in a rich gravy over cassava dumplings, the latter was hard not to order every time. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Smothered Chicken This recipe builds a rich, flavorful gravy thanks to chicken thighs and bacon that cook quickly in the skillet. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gravey, from Anglo-French gravé broth, stew

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gravy

• gravy train
• redeye gravy

Rhymes for gravy

• navy
• wavy

Kids Definition

gravy

noun

gra·​vy ˈgrā-vē 

plural gravies

1

: a sauce made from the thickened and seasoned juices of cooked meat

2

: something additional or unexpected that is pleasing or valuable