crevice
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- creviced adjective
Etymology
Origin of crevice
1300–50; Middle English crevace < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to crev ( er ) to crack (< Latin crepāre ) + -ace noun suffix
Compare meaning
How does crevice compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A crevice is a long, tight space often found on the face of a mountain or other geological formation. A crevice can be large or small, but because it is usually hard reach, it is a great hiding place for all things like reptiles, bugs, and lost climbers. The word crevice often refers to a natural formation, but it can be used to describe any long, narrow space that’s hard to access. If you’ve lost something you might say, “I’m going to look in every crack and crevice,” to describe the search. Chances are you’ll find that lost item in the long narrow space — the crevice — between the cushions of your sofa, along with other things you didn't even know were missing!
Vocabulary lists containing crevice
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"The Tell-Tale Heart," Vocabulary from the short story
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A Wrinkle in Time
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The first pilot was found Friday, but it took more than 36 hours to locate the second aviator who was hiding in a mountain crevice.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
I descended into a crevice in the earth shrouded by foliage, and passed through stone chambers with dioramas with an audio-guide explaining the dramatic saga.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025
Lt Gim Toni De Masi said a body was found in a crevice in the area from where Mr Hall had sent the message.
From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025
“And you know what? You get into a deep crevice like that, and sometimes you can’t get out of it.”
From Salon • May 6, 2025
Used chess books were everywhere, hidden in every conceivable crevice, many stacked from floor to ceiling or on top of chairs, or weighing down and bending the shelves.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.