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
William Jones, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Add a layer of small gravel over the surface so gnats can’t reach the potting mix to eat the fungus that naturally develops in the mix, nor to lay their eggs.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 July 2025
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
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
Whether dealing with slick grass, gravel paths, or uneven surfaces, the Sunseeker Elite X7 maintains control and performance with minimal slippage.
—William Jones, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Add a layer of small gravel over the surface so gnats can’t reach the potting mix to eat the fungus that naturally develops in the mix, nor to lay their eggs.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
Verb
One regular source of debate is the presence of cobble and gravel stages in the parcours — components which raise the chances of mechanicals, potentially ruining a GC contenders’ race.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 July 2025
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
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 21 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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