graver

American

[grey-ver] / ˈgreɪ vər /

noun

any of various tools for chasing, engraving, etc., as a burin.
an engraver.

graver British

/ ˈɡreɪvə /

noun

any of various engraving, chasing, or sculpting tools, such as a burin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of graver

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at grave ³, -er ¹

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.

So far, the war in Iran has put them in even graver danger.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Takaichi's challenges are graver: Japan is older, its economy is still growing too slowly and the world is in a very different place.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

During the 68-minute show, Foxx recounts his months-long health journey — beginning with the April evening when a “bad headache” turned much graver.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2024

Al Wilson, a Pennsylvania-based graver and local historian in his city, is interested in the documentation aspect of Find a Grave.

From Slate • Oct. 24, 2024

Jacob Riis, the New York journalist who had devoted himself to revealing the squalid housing of America’s poor, came to Chicago bearing counsel of a graver sort.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023