ravine

noun

ra·vine | \ rə-ˈvēn

Definition of ravine

: a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About ravine

Synonyms for ravine

Synonyms

canyon
(also cañon),
col,
couloir,
defile,
flume,
gap,
gill
[British],
gorge,
gulch,
gulf,
kloof
[South African],
linn
[chiefly Scottish],
notch,
pass,
saddle

Examples of ravine in a Sentence

he urged his horse down into the ravine where there was a thin stream of water flowing

Recent Examples on the Web Wilkins was attending the retreat called the Sedona Experiment and was wearing a pass for the event when his body was found in the ravine. — Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2022 Scofield’s story, however, would not nearly have the same impact as the events of Dec. 9, 2018, when the body of Brent Wilkins was found at the bottom of a ravine in Sedona. — Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2022 Babi Yar, a ravine in Kyiv, is where more than 33,000 Jews were killed within 48 hours in 1941 when the city was under Nazi occupation. — oregonlive, 1 Mar. 2022 Two weeks later, his body was found in a ravine in the Bay Area. — Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2022 Fire crews in Killen used ropes to rescue a dog that had fallen down a 300-foot ravine in north Alabama. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 21 Dec. 2021 Rescuers needed a full two months to find the last four team members (Lyudmila Dubinina, Aleksander Kolevatov, Nikolay Thibeaux-Brignolle, and Semyon Zolotaryov), since the bodies were buried under 13 feet of snow in a ravine within the woods. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 31 Mar. 2022 An estimated 15,000 Jews were shot or forced into mass graves at Drobitsky Yar, a ravine outside the eastern city of Kharkiv. — Cassandra Vinograd, NBC News, 26 Mar. 2022 Enter a rocky woodland ravine to discover deep rock ledges, cool streams, salamanders and other flora and fauna. — cleveland, 21 Mar. 2022 See More

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

History and Etymology for ravine

borrowed from French, "torrrent of water, gully formed by running water," going back to Middle French, "torrent of water," derivative of raviner "to run quickly, flow forcefully (of blood, water)," derivative of Old French ravine "violent force, momentum," going back to Latin rapīna "forcible carrying off of property, seizure and carrying off of a woman" — more at rapine

Note: See note at ravin.