ravine

noun

ra·​vine rə-ˈvēn 

: 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 of ravine

• canyon
• gorge
• valley

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

Santa Cruz Police Department The driver and another occupant ran away into a nearby ravine where a K-9 officer was used to apprehend the driver. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

The driver ran from the disabled SUV into a nearby ravine but was arrested after officers sent a police dog to capture him, police said. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Built into a natural ravine, the stadium’s site was used for ancient Greek athletic contests and later Roman spectacles before falling into centuries of disuse. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

The motorcycle drove down a ravine and struck a tree, according to the crash log. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "torrent 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.

First Known Use

1687, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ravine

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between
• bromine

Kids Definition

ravine

noun

ra·​vine rə-ˈvēn 

: a small narrow valley with steep sides that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon