ravine

noun

ra·​vine rə-ˈvēn How to pronounce ravine (audio)
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Strong winds interact with the topography in dangerous ways, flowing down into ravines like the rushing waters of a mountain stream after heavy rains. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025 Spokane Valley Fire Department Firefighters rescued an Uber driver on Wednesday afternoon after her car plunged into a ravine in Spokane Valley, Washington. Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2024 California’s largest fire in 2024 started when a man pushed a burning car into a ravine near Chico. Virginia Iglesias, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025 Advertisement Hirschfield raped Gonsalves and dumped both of the teenagers’ bodies in a ravine about 30 miles east of Davis in Sacramento County, where they were found by police three days later. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ravine 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "torrrent 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ravine was in 1687

Dictionary Entries Near ravine

Cite this Entry

“Ravine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ravine. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

ravine

noun
ra·​vine rə-ˈvēn How to pronounce ravine (audio)
: a small narrow valley with steep sides that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon

More from Merriam-Webster on ravine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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