Meaning & use

grave

noun·Everyday

A hole dug in the ground to bury a dead body, or the mound or marker above it.

See it in a sentence

Visitors placed fresh flowers on the grave every year on the anniversary of his death.

Archaeologists carefully excavated an ancient grave containing pottery and jewelry.

A note on using this word

As an adjective, grave describes something serious or causing great concern, as in the second sense below; the two meanings are historically related but used very differently today.

Words with a similar meaning

tombburial site

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Very serious, important, or causing great concern or fear.

The doctor's grave expression told the family the news would not be good.

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