grave
death of a person
How often you will meet it
Rank 824 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 22,003 times across 173,849 chapters — 0.010% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- death of a person he went to his grave without forgiving mefrom cradle to grave
- a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone) also: tomb he put flowers on his mother's grave
- a mark (`) placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation also: grave accent
adjective
- dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises also: sedate, sober, solemn a grave God-fearing mana quiet sedate nature
- causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm also: dangerous, grievous, serious, severe, life-threatening a dangerous operationa grave situation
- of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought also: grievous, heavy, weighty grave responsibilitiesfaced a grave decision in a time of crisis
verb
- shape (a material like stone or wood) by whittling away at it also: sculpt, sculpture She is sculpting the block of marble into an image of her husband
- carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface also: scratch, engrave, inscribe engrave a penengraved the trophy cup with the winner's name
grave in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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I may seem grave, and dull, and slow.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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And the star was shining, and it shines upon his grave.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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No," growing suddenly quite grave, "you will have to guess again.
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1
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She attributed his silence and his distractions to the grave cares that filled his mind.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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In life they keep us frequently in tears; And in the cold grave leave us in pale fears.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1