Grave is a word with several meanings. Most often, it describes something seriousnot funny or casual; needing careful attention, important, or worrying. It can also refer to a burialthe act of placing a dead body in the ground place, a carving action, or deaththe end of life itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ɡreɪv/
Easy pronunciation: GRAVE (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed.
Adjective meaning very serious or important.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Grave Meaning
very serious or important
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: of great importance or seriousness; needing careful thought
Example: The doctor said it was a grave situation.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- serious — Direct match in the sense of serious or worrying.
- severe — Works when the meaning is very serious or harsh.
- weighty — Can fit when something feels important and serious.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Grave
Meaning 2
quietly serious and formal
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: dignified and sober in manner or character
Example: He had a grave, calm manner.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sedate — Fits the sense of calm and restrained.
- sober — Works for a serious, restrained manner.
- solemn — Matches a serious and formal attitude.
Meaning 3
cut or carve into something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface
Example: The date was engraved into the stone.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- engrave — Direct synonym for cutting a design or words into a surface.
- inscribe — Works when words or marks are cut or written on a surface.
Meaning 4
shape by carving away material
Part of speech: verb
Definition: shape a material such as stone or wood by cutting away pieces
Example: The artist sculpted the wood into a bird.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sculpt — A good match for shaping material into a form.
Meaning 5
a burial place
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a place where a dead body is buried
Example: They visited her grave on Sunday.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- tomb — Related burial place word, but not always identical in everyday use.
Meaning 6
death
Part of speech: noun
Definition: death of a person
Example: He carried the secret to his grave.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Grave Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- serious
- severe
- weighty
serious and dignified
- sedate
- sober
- solemn
carve or etch into a surface
- engrave
- inscribe
shape by carving away material
- sculpt
a burial place
- tomb
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing grave meaning serious with grave meaning burial place.
- Using grave to mean any kind of danger; in many contexts serious or severe is a better fit.
- Thinking grave is only a noun; it is also an adjective and a verb.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does grave mean in English?
Grave most commonly means very serious or important. It can also mean a burial place, a carving action, or death.
What is a simple synonym for grave?
For the common adjective sense, serious is the simplest synonym.
Is grave the same as tomb?
Not exactly. A grave is a burial place, while a tomb is often a more formal or built structure for burial.
How do I know which meaning of grave is being used?
Look at the part of speech and the surrounding words. If it describes a situation or decision, it usually means serious. If it follows burial or flowers, it usually means burial place.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
