1
obsolete
: sand
2
a
: loose rounded fragments of rock
b
: a stratum or deposit of gravel
also
: a surface covered with gravel
a gravel road
3
: small calculi in the kidneys and urinary bladder
: gravelly sense 2
—used of the human voice
Synonyms
Examples of gravel in a Sentence
Verb
managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples
Adjective
after his bout with laryngitis, he had a terribly gravel voice
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Gallaher, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2024
Finally, Waddle and co took their experiment outside, into 12 different semi-natural mesocosms enclosed by netting and containing ponds with gravel, artificial vegetation, and various shelters.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 26 June 2024
James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2024
The hotel is landscaped with the striking Canarian black volcanic rock ground down to gravel and dotted with oddly attractive spiky plants – cacti, succulents and huge sprouting palms – all of which love the island's climate.
—William Leigh, theweek, 14 May 2024
Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2023
At the scene in Bowdoin, yellow crime scene tape hung around a home with a long, gravel driveway in a wooded area.
—Patrick Whittle and David Sharp, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for gravel 
Noun
On a gravel patio off the back of the house, two dining tables provide plenty of space for dinner parties.
—Rachel Gallaher, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2024
Finally, Waddle and co took their experiment outside, into 12 different semi-natural mesocosms enclosed by netting and containing ponds with gravel, artificial vegetation, and various shelters.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 26 June 2024
Verb
The plane appeared to crash into a mound of dirt and gravel at a facility south of the airport.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2024
The hotel is landscaped with the striking Canarian black volcanic rock ground down to gravel and dotted with oddly attractive spiky plants – cacti, succulents and huge sprouting palms – all of which love the island's climate.
—William Leigh, theweek, 14 May 2024
Adjective
My gravel bike is a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5, which weighs about 25 lb, so the extra 7 pounds on the Turbo Creo 2 Comp didn't seem like a big deal.
—Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2023
At the scene in Bowdoin, yellow crime scene tape hung around a home with a long, gravel driveway in a wooded area.
—Patrick Whittle and David Sharp, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for gravel
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gravel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Gravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravel. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gravel
1 of 3 noun
grav·el
ˈgrav-əl 
: small pieces of rock and pebbles larger than grains of sand
gravel
2 of 3 adjectivegravel
3 of 3 verb
graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling
ˈgrav-(ə-)liŋ
: to cover or spread with gravel
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