verb

ravel

RA-vuhl

Ravel (verb) means to tangle or complicate something. Example: “The kitten managed to ravel the ball of yarn into a knot.”

verb

To tangle or complicate something.

"The kitten managed to ravel the ball of yarn into a knot."

To fray or come apart at the edges, as fabric does.

"The hem began to ravel after so many washes."

noun

A tangled, confusing knot or situation.

"The wires were left in a hopeless ravel behind the desk."

How to use ravel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishConfusingly, ravel can mean both to tangle something up AND to come apart/unravel — context decides which.

Common mistake

Ravel is one of English's rare contranyms (a word that can mean opposite things), so check context carefully before assuming which sense is meant.

Word forms

raveled past tense, ravelled past tense, ravels plural, ravels singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The kitten managed to _____ the ball of yarn into a knot.

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch ravelen/rafelen, meaning to tangle or fray; the exact origin beyond that is uncertain.

Origin: Dutch

Synonyms

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run ladder knot tangle unravel ravel out

Related words

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Rhymes for ravel

navel gavel Pavel Havel travel gravel unravel

See all rhymes for ravel →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ravel” mean?

The word “ravel” means to tangle or complicate something. In plain terms, confusingly, ravel can mean both to tangle something up AND to come apart/unravel — context decides which.

How do you pronounce “ravel”?

“Ravel” is pronounced RA-vuhl (/ˈɹævəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “ravel” in a sentence?

Here is “ravel” used in a sentence: “The kitten managed to ravel the ball of yarn into a knot.”

What part of speech is “ravel”?

Depending on how it is used, “ravel” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “ravel” come from?

The word “ravel” comes from Dutch. Borrowed from Dutch ravelen/rafelen, meaning to tangle or fray; the exact origin beyond that is uncertain.

How many meanings does “ravel” have?

“Ravel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tangle or complicate something.

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Words with Dutch origins

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