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

Hikers should carve out enough time in their schedule to explore Mariscol Canyon, which is in an incredibly remote section of the park off of the River road that requires a two-hour drive on a dirt road and a high clearance vehicle. —Graham Averill, Outside, 23 Feb. 2026

And yet the awabi marks the passing of the years by carving rings into her shell, treelike. —Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

This is about carving out space — a walk, a commute, an hour — where a device isn’t competing for your attention with everything else in your life. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026

Intermittently in past years, former players were inducted into the La Jolla High School Baseball Hall of Fame and their names were carved into a wall next to the field during the alumni game. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026

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