engrave

verb

en·​grave in-ˈgrāv 

en-

engraved; engraving

transitive verb

1

a

: to impress deeply as if with a graver

the incident was engraved in his memory

b

: to form by incision (as on wood or metal)

2

a

: to cut figures, letters, or designs on for printing

also : to print from an engraved plate

an engraved invitation

b

: photoengrave

engraver noun

Synonyms of engrave

• etch
• inscribe
• carve

Examples of engrave in a Sentence

They will engrave your initials on the ring for free.

She had the ring engraved with her initials.

The image was engraved on the plaque.

Recent Examples on the Web

If the latter film were to win, the Academy Award would also have the country that submitted it engraved on the statuette as well. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

First stop, of course, was the Governors Gala, where the Emmy winners had their new trophies personally engraved. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026

No trace of him was ever found beyond a work tool engraved with his initials, his widow, Rose Ellen Dowdell, told the Daily News. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

My club even did a collab with Converse and got their club logo engraved. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French engraver, from en- + graver to grave, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English grafan to grave

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing engrave

• re-engrave

Rhymes for engrave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave
• architrave

Kids Definition

engrave

verb

en·​grave in-ˈgrāv 

engraved; engraving

1

: to impress deeply

the incident was engraved in my memory

2

a

: to cut or carve (as letters or designs) on a hard surface

b

: to cut lines, letters, figures, or designs on or into (a hard surface) often for use in printing

c

: to print from a cut surface

an engraved wedding invitation

engraver noun