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adj A1 Beginner Common

gray

gray
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Also spelled grey (UK spelling)

Gray (adj) means having a color between black and white, like the color of clouds or ash. Example: “The sky turned gray just before the storm.”

adj
1
Having a color between black and white, like the color of clouds or ash.
"The sky turned gray just before the storm."
"He had gone completely gray by his fifties."
"The old cat has soft gray fur and bright green eyes."
2
Dull, dreary, or gloomy.
"It was a gray, miserable Monday morning."
"A gray mood hung over the office after the bad news."
"Winter in the city can feel gray and endless."
verb
1
To become gray, especially of hair.
"Her curls will gray slowly over the next few decades."
"Beards often gray before the hair on top of the head does."
"His hair began to gray in his late thirties."

How to use gray

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe color between black and white; also used for dull weather or graying hair.

UK vs US

American English generally prefers "gray"; British English generally prefers "grey" — both are correct and widely understood in either country.

Easily confused with
grey →
Common pairings
gray hair gray sky shades of gray
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Word forms

Plural
grays
Third person singular
grays
Past tense
grayed
Comparative
grayer, more gray
Superlative
grayest, most gray
Test yourself on “gray” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The sky turned _____ just before the storm.

Etymology

From Old English grǣġ, the West Saxon form; the alternate spelling "grey" comes from the Anglian form. Related to an ancient root meaning "to grow" or "to become green".

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

View more →
grey silver slate ashen charcoal smoke gunmetal grayish hoary grizzly greyish hoar

Related words

old past silver ancient smoke ticket smoking coal

Rhymes for gray

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay
See all rhymes for gray →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gray” mean?
The word “gray” means having a color between black and white, like the color of clouds or ash. In plain terms, the color between black and white; also used for dull weather or graying hair.
How do you pronounce “gray”?
“Gray” is pronounced gray (/ɡɹeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gray” in a sentence?
Here is “gray” used in a sentence: “The sky turned gray just before the storm.”
What part of speech is “gray”?
Depending on how it is used, “gray” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “gray” come from?
The word “gray” comes from Old English. From Old English grǣġ, the West Saxon form; the alternate spelling "grey" comes from the Anglian form. Related to an ancient root meaning "to grow" or "to become green".
Is “gray” a common word?
“Gray” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “gray” have?
“Gray” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a color between black and white, like the color of clouds or ash.
What is the difference between gray and grey?
There is no difference in meaning; both spellings describe the same color between black and white. 'Gray' is the standard American spelling, while 'grey' is preferred in British and most Commonwealth English. Choose one and use it consistently within a piece of writing.
What colors make gray?
Mixing black and white makes gray, and the ratio sets how light or dark it looks. More white gives a soft, pale gray; more black gives a deep, charcoal gray. You can also create gray by combining complementary colors, which mute each other into a neutral tone.
What does the color gray symbolize?
Gray often symbolizes neutrality, balance, and compromise, which is why 'a gray area' means something unclear or in between. It can also suggest sophistication and calm, or dullness, gloom, and age, depending on context. Its meaning shifts easily because it sits between the extremes of black and white.

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