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Definition
serious and/or solemnThe exact meaning of this sense of grave is often subject to its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad (with a heavy heart)
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — sincere and dignified without humor
Word forms with other better known meanings:
- grave — a place where a dead body is buried
- gravity — in the sense of physics to refer to the force of attraction between all masses in the universe—especially the force that causes things to fall toward the earth
Word forms with lesser known meanings:
- grave — death (as in "A message from beyond the grave.")
- grave — of dark color
- grave accent — in some languages (other than English) a symbol (like a reversed apostrophe) placed over some letters of the alphabet to tell how they are pronounced
- grave musical direction — in a slow and solemn manner
- grave — short for engrave—to carve or stamp an impression (sometimes metaphorically)
- grave — to sculpt with a chisel
- grave — to clean and coat the bottom of a wooden ship with pitch
- Her smile disappeared as she suddenly realized the gravity of her situation.
gravity = seriousness or importance (weightiness)
- It was the day of the funeral and she was in a grave mood.
- This is a grave problem.
- Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare to laugh;Lewis Carroll -- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
- "Then I have misjudged you, and I ask your pardon"—he bowed gravely.Willa Cather -- My Antonia
- His statement seemed so fantastic that I suspected him of pulling my leg, but he was perfectly grave and serious.Agatha Christie -- Early Cases Of Hercule Poirot
- Dick nodded gravely, looking at the stone floor, like a priest in the confessional—F. Scott Fitzgerald -- Tender is the Night
- ...trying to make a joke, but they were all too grave for a joke and no one smiled.Ernest Hemingway -- For Whom the Bell Tolls
- "I don't see anything funny," she said gravely, when she could be heard.Louisa May Alcott -- Little Women
- one of his servants was gravely ill,Paulo Coelho -- The Alchemist
- I roused the five of you because we are all in grave danger.Christopher Paolini -- Eragon
- Slowly and gravely the Witch repeated, "There is no sun."C.S. Lewis -- The Silver Chair
- General Pickett is gravely concerned, sir.Michael Shaara -- The Killer Angels
- First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate.Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Letter from a Birmingham Jail
- You've already escaped the gravest danger:Elie Wiesel -- Night
- She liked him—in spite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object of interest.Jane Austen -- Sense and Sensibility
- he said gravely, "that is very serious indeed!"Arthur Conan Doyle -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Msimangu said gravely, yes, she is very sick.Alan Paton -- Cry, the Beloved Country
- How do people choose their final words? Do they realize their gravity?Mitch Albom -- The Five People You Meet in Heaven
- More grave nodding; they knew about nightmares.William Golding -- Lord of the Flies
grave = solemn (serious and somber)
grave = important, dangerous, or causing worry
grave = serious and solemn
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
grave = serious and solemn
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
grave = serious
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
gravely = seriously
grave = serious (important)
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
gravely = very seriously (severely)
gravely = seriously
gravest = most serious
gravity = seriousness
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
gravity = importance (weightiness)
grave = serious and solemn