Illustration of raven
: a large, glossy-black bird (Corvus corax) that is widely distributed in northern parts of the northern hemisphere but now rare in most areas of the eastern and central U.S. and that differs from the closely related common crow chiefly in its larger size and wedge-shaped tail and in having the feathers of the throat narrow and pointed resulting in a shaggy appearance
also
: any of various usually large and glossy black, corvine birds
: shiny and black like a raven's feathers
raven hair
ravened; ravening
ˈra-və-niŋ 
ˈrav-niŋ
1
: to devour greedily
2
: despoil
men … raven the earth, destroying its resources—
New Yorker
New YorkerExamples of raven in a Sentence
Adjective
had dark eyes and raven hair
Verb
the rat ravened the poisoned bait just as we had hoped
Recent Examples on the Web
Charna Flam, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2023, their eggs were eaten by ravens, and last winter, all three of their eggs failed to hatch after a season of rough conditions.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2025
Zegler’s hair was coifed by Clayton Hawkins, with wisps of her raven black tresses to frame her face.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for raven
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Noun
Unfortunately, the two eggs were eaten by ravens, the Los Angeles Times reported then.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2023, their eggs were eaten by ravens, and last winter, all three of their eggs failed to hatch after a season of rough conditions.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
As for her glam, the former Pussycat Dolls member styled her hair in a tight chignon with strands of her raven black tresses to frame her face.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2025
Zegler’s hair was coifed by Clayton Hawkins, with wisps of her raven black tresses to frame her face.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for raven
Cite this Entry
“Raven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raven. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
raven
1 of 2 noun
ra·ven
ˈrā-vən
: a bird of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and America that has glossy black feathers and is larger than the related crow
raven
2 of 2 adjective
: shiny and black like a raven's feathers
raven hair
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