verb
graze
grayz
Graze (verb) means to eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture. Example: “The cows grazed peacefully in the field all afternoon.”
verb
1
To eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture.
"The cows grazed peacefully in the field all afternoon."
"Farmers move the sheep to a new paddock so they always have fresh grass to graze on."
2
To touch or rub something lightly while passing it, sometimes scraping the skin.
"The bullet grazed his shoulder without causing serious damage."
"She grazed her knee when she tripped on the pavement."
noun
1
A minor scrape or scratch on the skin.
"He cleaned the graze on his elbow with antiseptic."
How to use graze
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither animals eating grass in a field, or something brushing past you closely enough to leave a light scratch.
Common pairings
graze on grass
a graze on the knee
cattle graze
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Word forms
- Plural
- grazes
- Third person singular
- grazes
- Past tense
- grazed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cows _____ peacefully in the field all afternoon.
Etymology
From Old English grasian, "to feed on grass," built from the word grass itself.
Related words
Rhymes for graze
See all rhymes for 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.
