carve

verb

ˈkärv 

carved; carving

transitive verb

1

: to cut with care or precision

carved fretwork

2

: to make or get by or as if by cutting

—often used with out

carve out a career

3

: to cut into pieces or slices

carved the turkey

intransitive verb

1

: to cut up and serve meat

2

: to work as a sculptor or engraver

carver noun

Synonyms of carve

• sculpt

Examples of carve in a Sentence

We carved an ice sculpture.

Who is going to carve the turkey?

He carved while I made the gravy.

Recent Examples on the Web

With space to break into, and long-standing team-mates to combine with (Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gakpo especially), Liverpool carved through opponents. —Liam Tharme, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025

Adopters must be able to take the animal home on the day of adoption, and also be sure to have an hour carved out to spend with a PAWS adoption counselor. —Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

Trump’s $12 billion trade bailout, dubbed the Farmer Bridge Payment Program, carves out $11 billion for row crop farmers who grow massive quantities of crops like corn and soybeans. —Garrett Downs, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

From 1964-71 with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins, Mira carved out a career as a versatile and resilient backup quarterback during the early days of the NFL's Super Bowl era. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English kerven, from Old English ceorfan; akin to Old High German kerban to notch, Greek graphein to scratch, write

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing carve

• carve up

Rhymes for carve

• starve

Kids Definition

carve

verb

ˈkärv 

carved; carving

1

: to cut with care or exactness

2

: to cut into pieces or slices

3

: to cut up and serve meat

carver noun