graze
7 synonyms for graze, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture.
“The cows grazed peacefully in the field all afternoon.”
2. noun
A minor scrape or scratch on the skin.
“He cleaned the graze on his elbow with antiseptic.”
How to use graze
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
graze on grass
a graze on the knee
cattle graze
Etymology
From Old English grasian, "to feed on grass," built from the word grass itself.
Full origin of graze →Frequently asked questions
What does “graze” mean?
The word “graze” means to eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture. In plain terms, either animals eating grass in a field, or something brushing past you closely enough to leave a light scratch.
How do you pronounce “graze”?
“Graze” is pronounced grayz (/ɡɹeɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “graze” in a sentence?
Here is “graze” used in a sentence: “The cows grazed peacefully in the field all afternoon.”
What part of speech is “graze”?
Depending on how it is used, “graze” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “graze” come from?
The word “graze” comes from Old English. From Old English grasian, "to feed on grass," built from the word grass itself.
How many meanings does “graze” have?
“Graze” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture.
