grave

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈgrāv

Synonyms of grave next

: an excavation (see excavation sense 2) for burial of a body

broadly : a burial place

: death sense 1a

believes there is life beyond the grave

: death sense 4

grave

2 of 6

adjective

ˈgrāv

in sense 3 often

ˈgräv

graver; gravest

: meriting serious consideration : important

grave problems

: likely to produce great harm or danger

a grave mistake

: significantly serious : considerable, great

grave importance

obsolete : authoritative, weighty

: having a serious and dignified quality or demeanor

a grave and thoughtful look

of an accent mark : having the form `

: marked with a grave accent

: of the variety indicated by a grave accent

: low-pitched in sound

: drab in color : somber

gravely adverb

graveness noun

grave

3 of 6

: a grave accent ` used to show that a vowel is pronounced with a fall of pitch (as in ancient Greek), that a vowel has a certain quality (such as è in French), that a final e is stressed and close and that a final o is stressed and low (as in Italian), that a syllable has a degree of stress between maximum and minimum (as in phonetic transcription), or that the e of the English ending -ed is to be pronounced (as in "this cursèd day")

grave

4 of 6

adverb or adjective

gra·ve ˈgrä-(ˌ)vā

: slowly and solemnly

—used as a direction in music

grave

5 of 6

verb (1)

ˈgrāv

graved; graven ˈgrā-vən

or graved; graving

transitive verb

: to carve or cut (something, such as letters or figures) into a hard surface : engrave

graved the dates of his birth and death on the headstone

: to carve or shape with a chisel : sculpture

: to impress or fix (a thought, a memory, etc.) deeply

archaic : dig, excavate

grave

6 of 6

verb (2)

ˈgrāv

graved; graving

transitive verb

: to clean and pay with pitch

grave a ship's bottom

Choose the Right Synonym for grave

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous.

serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Example Sentences

Adjective This violation of school rules is a grave matter. His carelessness could have grave consequences. They have placed themselves in grave danger. I have grave doubts about this plan. suffering from a grave illness The judge issued his ruling with a grave expression. The French word père is written with a grave accent over the first e. See More