1
obsolete
: sand
2
a
: loose rounded fragments of rock
b
: a stratum or deposit of gravel
also
: a surface covered with gravel
a gravel road
3
: small calculi in the kidneys and urinary bladder
: gravelly sense 2
—used of the human voice
Examples of gravel in a Sentence
Verb
managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples
Adjective
after his bout with laryngitis, he had a terribly gravel voice
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Finally, the property has a deep-water dock and moorings, granite outcroppings, a gravel beach area, and pathways throughout the sprawling acreage.
—Emma Reynolds, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Alex Music, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025
The Sullivan Estate vineyard is on the valley floor at the northern edge of the Rutherford appellation, where predominantly gravel, sand, and loam soils provide excellent natural drainage and result in reduced vigor and low yields in a good year; 2021’s was reduced by 30 percent.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 15 June 2025
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 24 July 2024
My gravel bike is a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5, which weighs about 25 lb, so the extra 7 pounds on the Turbo Creo 2 Comp didn't seem like a big deal.
—Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gravel
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Noun
Grass for gravel The historic White House Rose Garden is getting a new look.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Finally, the property has a deep-water dock and moorings, granite outcroppings, a gravel beach area, and pathways throughout the sprawling acreage.
—Emma Reynolds, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
Aggregates are solid particles like sand and gravel that, when combined with water and cement, lock into place in the mixture.
—Alex Music, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025
The Sullivan Estate vineyard is on the valley floor at the northern edge of the Rutherford appellation, where predominantly gravel, sand, and loam soils provide excellent natural drainage and result in reduced vigor and low yields in a good year; 2021’s was reduced by 30 percent.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 15 June 2025
Adjective
Every Tuesday evening cyclists depart downtown at 5 P.M. and the pace ramps up to eye-popping speeds as the peloton spins along the paved and gravel roads outside town.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 24 July 2024
My gravel bike is a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5, which weighs about 25 lb, so the extra 7 pounds on the Turbo Creo 2 Comp didn't seem like a big deal.
—Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gravel
Cite this Entry
“Gravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravel. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gravel
1 of 3 noun
grav·el
ˈgrav-əl 
: small pieces of rock and pebbles larger than grains of sand
gravel
2 of 3 adjectivegravel
3 of 3 verb
graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling
ˈgrav-(ə-)liŋ
: to cover or spread with gravel
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