tomb

1 of 2

noun

ˈtüm 

1

a

: an excavation in which a corpse is buried : grave

b

: a place of interment

2

: a house, chamber, or vault for the dead

3

: a building or structure resembling a tomb (as in appearance)

tombless

ˈtüm-ləs 

adjective

tomb

2 of 2

verb

tombed; tombing; tombs

transitive verb

: bury, entomb

Synonyms of tomb

Noun

• burial
• grave
• cemetery
• sepulchre

Verb

• bury
• inter

Examples of tomb in a Sentence

Noun

the tomb of Alexander the Great

explored the historic graveyard and saw tombs that dated back two centuries

Verb

Forest Lawn is where many of Tinseltown's immortals are tombed for all eternity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the Valley of the Kings, guides suggest specific tombs based on what you’re drawn to, whether intricate artwork, historical significance, or lighter crowds, while explaining what the decorations convey about ancient beliefs and power. — Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026

The tombs of all the greatest rulers of Egypt. — Kaitlin Stevens, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026

The soldiers, gifts from the sister city of Xi’an, China, are replicas of some of the 7,000 life-sized terra-cotta warriors found at the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. — Eric Adler june 24, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026

For decades, tomb raiders have pillaged sites across the country, selling them on the black market. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tombe, from Anglo-French tumbe, from Late Latin tumba sepulchral mound, from Greek tymbos; perhaps akin to Latin tumēre to be swollen — more at thumb entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tomb

• blume
• boom
• broom
• doom
• flume
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum

Kids Definition

tomb

noun

ˈtüm

1

: grave entry 2 sense 1

2

: a house or burial chamber for dead people