gravel

1 of 3

noun

grav·​el ˈgra-vəl 

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

gravel

2 of 3

verb

graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling ˈgra-v(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to cover or spread with gravel

2

a

: perplex, confound

b

: irritate, nettle

… disappointed … and graveled him a good deal …

—Mark Twain

gravel

3 of 3

adjective

: gravelly sense 2

—used of the human voice

Synonyms of gravel

Verb

• baffle
• puzzle
• confuse
• bewilder
• perplex
• muddy
• maze

Adjective

• hoarse
• gruff
• husky
• gravelly
• coarse

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

Noun

People would walk in a sandbox to get the sound of somebody walking up the gravel road to the door. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The ride’s track sits on pea gravel to help quiet the roar of the coaster. — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

Officials said special attention will be given to gravel roads that could be susceptible to washouts and erosion. — Detroit Free Press, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Most of the early mining there consisted of placer mining — extracting minerals from sand and gravel in river beds — and mining declined during the Civil War. — John Meyer, Denver Post, 26 July 2026

Adjective

Today, the site is a gravel lot. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026

The Finland Beyond trip will feature a mix of gravel and e-gravel bikes. — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French gravele, diminutive of grave, greve river bank, stony ground

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1939, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gravel

• gravel-blind

Rhymes for gravel

• caval
• cavil
• gavel
• travel
• unravel

Kids 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 adjective

: gravelly sense 2

gravel

3 of 3 verb

graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling

ˈgrav-(ə-)liŋ

: to cover or spread with gravel

Medical Definition

gravel

noun

grav·​el ˈgrav-əl 

1

: a deposit of small calculous concretions in the kidneys and urinary bladder compare microlith

2

: the condition that results from the presence of deposits of gravel