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 Pakistan, she was greeted by President Mohammad Ayub Khan, laid a wreath at the tomb of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the nation’s founder, and attended a state dinner in Islamabad, the nation’s capital. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

Since its founding in 1838, Green-Wood Cemetery’s permanent residents have lain among the hills of Brooklyn, their tranquility guarded by elaborate statuary, venerable trees, and sumptuous tombs. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026

Cronin wanted to keep the arid atmosphere associated with his creature’s origins, but refused to trap the entire story in a tomb. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026

One of the most common rituals is for royal brides to lay their bouquet on a tomb, at a chapel, or by a religious statue. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 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