raven

1 of 3

noun

ra·​ven ˈrā-vən 

: a large, glossy-black bird (Corvus corax) that is widely distributed in northern parts of the northern hemisphere but now rare in most areas of the eastern and central U.S. and that differs from the closely related common crow chiefly in its larger size and wedge-shaped tail and in having the feathers of the throat narrow and pointed resulting in a shaggy appearance

also : any of various usually large and glossy black, corvine birds

Illustration of raven

raven

2 of 3

adjective

: shiny and black like a raven's feathers

raven hair

raven

3 of 3

verb

rav·​en ˈra-vən 

ravened; ravening ˈra-və-niŋ 

ˈrav-niŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to feed greedily

2

: to prowl for food : prey

3

: plunder

transitive verb

1

: to devour greedily

2

: despoil

men … raven the earth, destroying its resources

—New Yorker

ravener

ˈra-və-nər 

ˈrav-nər

noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• black
• ebony
• pitch-black
• pitch-dark
• pitchy
• sable

Verb

• bolt
• cram
• devour
• glut [archaic]
• gobble
• gorge
• gormandize
• gulp
• ingurgitate
• inhale
• scarf
• scoff
• slop
• wolf

Examples of raven in a Sentence

Adjective

had dark eyes and raven hair

Verb

the rat ravened the poisoned bait just as we had hoped

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site at the Twentynine Palms Marine base shelters the young reptiles until their shells are tough enough to withstand raven attacks. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024

An unkindness of ravens, a parliament of owls, an exaltation of larks! —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Zegler’s hair was coifed by Clayton Hawkins, with wisps of her raven black tresses to frame her face. —Julia Teti, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025

Her raven black hair was styled with a middle part and worn straight and down. —Julia Teti, WWD, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hræfn; akin to Old High German hraban raven, Latin corvus, Greek korax

Verb

probably verbal derivative of ravin

Note: It is pointed out by the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, that given the Middle English attestation of the derivatives ravener "plunderer, predatory animal" and ravening "rapacious," this verb may also date to Middle English. Compare Anglo-French raviner "to steal, take away," apparently attested once.

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1637, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing raven

• night raven

Rhymes for raven

• craven
• flavin
• graven
• haven
• maven
• pavan
• shaven
• engraven
• unshaven
• riboflavin

Kids Definition

raven

1 of 2 noun

ra·​ven ˈrā-vən 

: a bird of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and America that has glossy black feathers and is larger than the related crow

raven

2 of 2 adjective

: shiny and black like a raven's feathers

raven hair