ravine

noun

ra·​vine rə-ˈvēn 

: a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water

Synonyms

• canyon
• cañon
• col
• couloir
• defile
• flume
• gap
• gill [British]
• gorge
• gulch
• gulf
• kloof [South African]
• linn [chiefly Scottish]
• notch
• pass
• saddle

Examples of ravine in a Sentence

he urged his horse down into the ravine where there was a thin stream of water flowing

Recent Examples on the Web

When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2025

Baboons respond with sharp warning cries that echo through the ravine. —Julia Eskins, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025

Head down a trail along a wooded ravine at the edge of Bentonville, Arkansas and suddenly up pops the celebrated Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (CB). —John Oseid, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Over the next half a day, Raley beat and stabbed the two girls dozens of times before dumping them down a steep ravine off Silver Creek Road in San Jose. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "torrent of water, gully formed by running water," going back to Middle French, "torrent of water," derivative of raviner "to run quickly, flow forcefully (of blood, water)," derivative of Old French ravine "violent force, momentum," going back to Latin rapīna "forcible carrying off of property, seizure and carrying off of a woman" — more at rapine

Note: See note at ravin.

First Known Use

1687, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ravine

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

ravine

noun

ra·​vine rə-ˈvēn 

: a small narrow valley with steep sides that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon