gravy
GRAY-vee
Gravy (noun) means a sauce made from the juices and fat that come from cooking meat, often thickened and served over food. Example: “She poured gravy over the mashed potatoes.”
noun
1
A sauce made from the juices and fat that come from cooking meat, often thickened and served over food.
"She poured gravy over the mashed potatoes."
"The turkey came with a rich, savory gravy."
2
Informal: extra money or benefit gained easily, beyond what was expected.
"The base salary was fine, but the bonus was pure gravy."
How to use gravy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA savory sauce made from meat juices, or informally, an easy extra bonus.
Common mistake
"Gravy train" means an easy source of money or benefit — it has nothing to do with actual gravy or trains.
Common pairings
pour gravy
turkey and gravy
gravy train
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Word forms
- Plural
- gravies
- Third person singular
- gravies
- Past tense
- gravied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She poured _____ over the mashed potatoes.
Etymology
From Middle English gravey, likely linked to greaves/graves ("sediment from melted fat").
Related words
Rhymes for gravy
See all rhymes for gravy →Frequently asked questions
What does “gravy” mean?
The word “gravy” means a sauce made from the juices and fat that come from cooking meat, often thickened and served over food. In plain terms, a savory sauce made from meat juices, or informally, an easy extra bonus.
How do you pronounce “gravy”?
“Gravy” is pronounced GRAY-vee (/ˈɡɹeɪvi/ in IPA).
How do you use “gravy” in a sentence?
Here is “gravy” used in a sentence: “She poured gravy over the mashed potatoes.”
What part of speech is “gravy”?
“Gravy” is a noun.
Where does the word “gravy” come from?
The word “gravy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English gravey, likely linked to greaves/graves ("sediment from melted fat").
Is “gravy” a common word?
“Gravy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “gravy” have?
“Gravy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sauce made from the juices and fat that come from cooking meat, often thickened and served over food.
