grave
181
4.2
- adjective
- /ɡreɪv/
- Formal
:
grave
- The effects of this lack of activity should be of grave concern to the parents.
- a grave danger
- grave consequences
- a grave concern
It's that double, double combination that suggests just how grave the situation is.
- It's that double, double combination that suggests just how grave the situation is.
- President Trump sounded a grave warning on terrorism.
- Another juicy murder case, another grave injustice.
- It's not grave damage to NSA.
- Keeping students out of school is a grave injustice.
- And for me, not having a complete religion around that is a grave, grave mistake.
- So a person in this situation is in danger, often grave danger.
- And a federal judge, Keith Ellison, said there are grave errors in every phase of these proceedings.
- Wings, great black wings, but the male face, it stared through the mist, grave and lethal.
- Now there are pitfalls, but they're even graver pitfalls if you do not accept some such distinction.
- I promise you that I know everyone of you has a huge grave concern about this week.
Examples
-
We are in grave danger here.
-
I think you're in grave trouble.
-
The country is face to face with a grave crisis.
-
There must be a grave reason.
-
When she came out, her face was grave but her eyes were dry.
Fiction book (1993) -
We are in a really grave pandemic.
-
You are in grave danger.
-
The sixth trend we face is that of grave global environmental and health problems.
Academic text (2008) -
We're in grave danger.
-
The doctor expressed a grave concern about the patient's health.
Synonyms
∞
2.0
Important and needing careful thought because it can have large effects
520
3.5
Very strong and harmful, often causing great damage
363
4.5
Causing strong sadness or a feeling of burden
92
4.7
Very serious and formal in a way that shows no humor
44
4.6
Serious and sensible in behavior or tone
26
7.9
Causing great pain or sorrow
18
5.3
Serious and important, needing careful thought
9
5.9
Calm and serious in a slow controlled way
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
1
8.6
To think a dead person is very upset because something goes against what they cared about
Compounds
How Serious
Surface Forms
Etymology
Grave comes from the Latin word gravis, meaning 'heavy'. So being grave is like having a 'heavy' feeling — serious, important, or thoughtful.