ravel

verb

Save Word

rav·el | \ ˈra-vəl

raveled or ravelled; raveling or ravelling\ ˈrav-liŋ

, ˈra-və- \

Definition of ravel

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to become unwoven, untwisted, or unwound : fray

2 : break up, crumble

3 obsolete : to become entangled or confused

transitive verb

1a : to separate or undo the texture of : unravel

b : to undo the intricacies of : disentangle

2 : entangle, confuse

ravel

noun

Definition of ravel (Entry 2 of 3)

: an act or result of raveling: such as

a : something tangled

b : something raveled out specifically : a loose thread

Ravel

biographical name

Ra·vel | \ rə-ˈvel

, ra- \

Definition of Ravel (Entry 3 of 3)

(Joseph) Mau*rice \ mȯ-ˈrēs

\ 1875–1937 French composer

Other Words from ravel Example Sentences Learn More about ravel

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from ravel

Verb

raveler \ ˈrav-lər

, ˈra-və- \ noun

ravelment \ ˈra-vəl-mənt

\ noun

Biographical name

Ravelian \ rə-ˈve-lyən

, ra- , -lē-ən \ adjective

Examples of ravel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb So somehow, Grace, Sacha and Robert end up accompanying Art and Charlotte to Norfolk, and all of their stories unravel and ravel at once. — Ellen Akins, Washington Post, "Ali Smith’s ‘Summer’ concludes her seasonal quartet on a high note," 14 Aug. 2020 Her eight novels, including the 2016 bestseller Commonwealth, tend to focus on families or groups raveling and unraveling over decades. — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, "How I Travel: Why Ann Patchett Is Her “Best Spiritual Self in an Airport”," 27 Sep. 2019 Now, with many New Yorkers complaining that life in New York is raveling under Mr. Bloomberg’s progressive successor, Bill de Blasio, a top Bloomberg lieutenant is telling his version of how the city was revitalized. — Edward Kosner, WSJ, "The Gotham Growth Spurt," 11 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ravel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.