grave

noun (1)

Save Word

Definition of grave

(Entry 1 of 6)

1 : an excavation (see excavation sense 2) for burial of a body broadly : a burial place

2a : death sense 1a believes there is life beyond the grave

b : death sense 4

grave

adjective

\ ˈgrāv

, in sense 3 often ˈgräv

graver; gravest

Definition of grave (Entry 2 of 6)

1a : meriting serious consideration : important grave problems

b : likely to produce great harm or danger a grave mistake

c : significantly serious : considerable, great grave importance

d obsolete : authoritative, weighty

2 : having a serious and dignified quality or demeanor a grave and thoughtful look

3a of an accent mark : having the form `

b : marked with a grave accent

c : of the variety indicated by a grave accent

4 : low-pitched in sound

5 : drab in color : somber

grave

noun (2)

\ ˈgrāv

, ˈgräv

Definition of grave (Entry 3 of 6)

: a grave accent ` used to show that a vowel is pronounced with a fall of pitch (as in ancient Greek), that a vowel has a certain quality (such as è in French), that a final e is stressed and close and that a final o is stressed and low (as in Italian), that a syllable has a degree of stress between maximum and minimum (as in phonetic transcription), or that the e of the English ending -ed is to be pronounced (as in "this cursèd day")

grave

adverb or adjective

gra·ve | \ ˈgrä-(ˌ)vā

Definition of grave (Entry 4 of 6)

: slowly and solemnly —used as a direction in music

grave

verb (1)

\ ˈgrāv

graved; graven\ ˈgrā-vən

\ or graved; graving

Definition of grave (Entry 5 of 6)

transitive verb

1a : to carve or cut (something, such as letters or figures) into a hard surface : engrave graved the dates of his birth and death on the headstone

b : to carve or shape with a chisel : sculpture

2 : to impress or fix (a thought, a memory, etc.) deeply

3 archaic : dig, excavate

grave

verb (2)

graved; graving

Definition of grave (Entry 6 of 6)

transitive verb

: to clean and pay with pitch grave a ship's bottom

Other Words from grave Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about grave

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for grave

Adjective

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous. serious implies a concern for what really matters. a serious play about social injustice grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude. read the proclamation in a grave voice solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity. a sad and solemn occasion sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness. remained sedate amid the commotion staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint. a quiet and staid community sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity. a sober look at the state of our schools earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose. an earnest reformer

Did You Know?

Adverb or adjective

Gravity has a familiar physical meaning but also a nonphysical meaning—basically "seriousness". Thus, something grave possesses gravity. You can refer to the gravity of a person's manner, though public figures today seem to have a lot less gravity than they used to have. Or you can talk about a grave situation, as in the example sentence. But even though Shakespeare makes a pun on grave when a dying character talks about being buried the next day ("Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man"), the word meaning "hole for burying a body" isn't actually related.

Examples of grave in a Sentence

Adjective This violation of school rules is a grave matter. His carelessness could have grave consequences. They have placed themselves in grave danger. I have grave doubts about this plan. suffering from a grave illness The judge issued his ruling with a grave expression. The French word père is written with a grave accent over the first e.