raven

1 of 3

noun

ra·​ven ˈrā-vən How to pronounce raven (audio)
: 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

Illustration of raven

Illustration of raven

raven

2 of 3

adjective

: shiny and black like a raven's feathers
raven hair

raven

3 of 3

verb

rav·​en ˈra-vən How to pronounce raven (audio)
ravened; ravening ˈra-və-niŋ How to pronounce raven (audio)
ˈrav-niŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to feed greedily
2
: to prowl for food : prey
3

transitive verb

1
: to devour greedily
2
: despoil
men … raven the earth, destroying its resourcesNew Yorker
ravener
ˈra-və-nər How to pronounce raven (audio)
ˈrav-nər
noun

Examples 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
Noun
Crows and ravens also famously engage in ritualistic foraging behavior for courtship. Matt Benoit, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Throughout the fall, a rare white raven breakfasted at a McDonald’s and lunched at a Wendy’s in Anchorage, Alaska. Ash Adams, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2024 In the past, Jackie and Shadow have lost eggs that have been nonviable, and some have been eaten by ravens. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Jackdaws are clever corvids that belong to the same family as crows and ravens. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2023 But the eggs never hatched and eventually became a snack for a hungry raven. Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024 Atop a base of black sheath dresses, coats and jackets were wrenched off the shoulder and blossomed over the hips in a New Look-on-steroids silhouette; exaggerated Poiret dresses ballooned to the calves; and intarsia ravens and roses were scattered over it all. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 How To Solve Today’s Wordle The Hint: Often attributed to the raven. Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 Jackie and Shadow have lost eggs in the past that have been nonviable or eaten by ravens. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Created by celebrity colorist Matt Rez, honeyed ribbon highlights like these are very popular right now–just see Rihanna, who also recently swapped her raven colour for a similar tone. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 The work in question was Nocturne in Black and Gold—The Falling Rocket, a diffuse rendering in jade greens and raven blacks, depicting London’s Cremorne Gardens. Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 Though trademarks like a tumble of raven waves, a cherried lip, and a feline flick of liquid liner featured on the self-facing album cover, the focus fell immediately to her hands. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 June 2023 Her raven hair was worn loose and paired with a nude pink lip. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 27 May 2023 To play up a duet of romantic suits—one by Robert Wun, the other from Carolina Herrera—hairstylist Chuck Amos combed Ross's raven lengths into a sleek updo, the midi ponytail positioned on the higher side, braided, and left to swing straight between shoulder blades. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2022 For the 2022 Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, March 13, the Saturday Night Live alum debuted dark, raven hair in a pixie cut. Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hræfn; akin to Old High German hraban raven, Latin corvus, Greek korax

Verb

probably verbal derivative of ravin

Note: It is pointed out by the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, that given the Middle English attestation of the derivatives ravener "plunderer, predatory animal" and ravening "rapacious," this verb may also date to Middle English. Compare Anglo-French raviner "to steal, take away," apparently attested once.

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1637, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of raven was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near raven

Cite this Entry

“Raven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raven. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

raven

1 of 2 noun
ra·​ven ˈrā-vən How to pronounce raven (audio)
: 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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