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

A deep, narrow valley cut into the land, usually by running water.

"The trail wound along the edge of a steep ravine."

How to use ravine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA steep, narrow gorge carved by water.

Easily confused with

ravage →

Common pairings

steep ravine deep ravine

Word forms

ravines plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “ravine” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for ravine

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

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.