noun
Uncommon
ravine
ruh-VEEN
Ravine (noun) means a deep, narrow valley cut into the land, usually by running water. Example: “The trail wound along the edge of a steep ravine.”
noun
1
A deep, narrow valley cut into the land, usually by running water.
"Thirty feet below her, where the Persians were crashing through the brush, the streambed kinked to the left side of the ravine and ran under an enormous thorn tree with a thick base."
— Thomas Harlan, The Shadow of Ararat: Book One of 'The Oath of Empire' (2007)
"The trail wound along the edge of a steep ravine."
"He fell into a reverie, a most dangerous state of mind for a chauffeur, since a fall into reverie on the part of a driver may mean a fall into a ravine on the part of the machine."
— Robert Barr (1913)
How to use ravine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA steep, narrow gorge carved by water.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
steep ravine
deep ravine
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Word forms
- Plural
- ravines
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The trail wound along the edge of a steep _____.
Etymology
From French ravin ("a gully"), tracing back through Old French raviner ("to cascade down") to Latin rapina ("plunder"), the same root as "rapine."
Rhymes for ravine
See all rhymes for ravine →Frequently asked questions
What does “ravine” mean?
The word “ravine” means a deep, narrow valley cut into the land, usually by running water. In plain terms, a steep, narrow gorge carved by water.
How do you pronounce “ravine”?
“Ravine” is pronounced ruh-VEEN (/ɹəˈvin/ in IPA).
How do you use “ravine” in a sentence?
Here is “ravine” used in a sentence: “The trail wound along the edge of a steep ravine.”
What part of speech is “ravine”?
“Ravine” is a noun.
Where does the word “ravine” come from?
The word “ravine” comes from Latin. From French ravin ("a gully"), tracing back through Old French raviner ("to cascade down") to Latin rapina ("plunder"), the same root as "rapine.".
Is “ravine” a common word?
“Ravine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
