shave

1 of 2

verb

ˈshāv 

shaved; shaved or shaven ˈshā-vən  ; shaving

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove a thin layer from

b

: to cut off in thin layers or shreds : slice

c

: to cut off closely

2

a

: to sever the hair from (the head or another part of the body) close to the roots

b

: to cut off (hair or beard) close to the skin

3

a

: to discount (a note) at an exorbitant rate

b

: deduct, reduce

c

: to conspire to score fewer (points) than one is capable of (as to affect gambling outcomes)

4

: to come close to or touch lightly in passing

intransitive verb

1

: to cut off hair or beard close to the skin

2

: to proceed with difficulty : scrape

shave

2 of 2

noun

1

: shaver sense 3

2

: a thin slice : shaving

3

: an act or the process of shaving

Synonyms of shave

Verb

• cut
• trim
• clip
• mow

Examples of shave in a Sentence

Verb

She cut herself while shaving her legs.

The sheep were all shaved.

He shaves every morning before breakfast.

I cut myself shaving this morning.

She shaves her dog's fur in the summer.

He shaved some butter from the container.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Out of the 286 original applicants, the list of finalists has been shaved down to 21, according to one of the finalists. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026

The actor is up for two awards this evening tied to her work in Bugonia—a role that famously required Stone to shave her head. —Jaimie Potters, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

Noun

The trailer opens on Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) giving Hal (Bryan Cranston) a full-body shave while on a video call with their second youngest. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

Ellsworth-Clark watches Jane Kaczmarek shave Bryan Cranston's back and crotch in the first scene of the new trailer. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English scafan; akin to Lithuanian skobti to pluck, Latin scabere to scratch, and perhaps to Greek koptein to cut — more at capon

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shave

• close shave

Rhymes for shave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave

Kids Definition

shave

1 of 2 verb

ˈshāv 

shaved; shaved or shaven ˈshā-vən  ; shaving

1

a

: to cut off in thin layers or shreds

b

: to cut off closely

2

a

: to cut the hair from (as the head) close to the roots

b

: to cut off hair or beard close to the skin

3

: to come close to or touch lightly in passing

the tire shaved the curb

shave

2 of 2 noun

1

: a tool for shaving or cutting thin slices

2

: an act or process of shaving especially the beard

3

: a narrow escape

a close shave