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

The eight bedrooms—four of which can be joined to make two family suites—are set far apart on a gravel pathway through the winter thorn forest (the furthest a brisk five-minute walk from the living area). —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

The bottom two layers of stone and roughly a foot of crushed gravel allow for proper drainage. —Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Verb

Crews laid 15,000 tons of material, from drainage to gravel to sand, and then topped it with the fresh grass pitch. —Amanda McCoy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026

Also, reusing local rubble reduces the carbon emissions from transporting heavy sand and gravel across long distances. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026

Adjective

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

The first part of the road, which is paved, is maintained by the state; the rest is gravel and stretches across Seymour's property and those of other neighbors. —Dana Hedgpeth The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 24 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