ravine
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ravine
1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French: torrent, Old French: a violent rushing; see raven 2
Explanation
In a Western, outlaws will lie in wait at the top of a ravine, or narrow valley, until they see a traveler entering at the bottom. Then, the outlaws will come pounding down the ravine's steep sides. Ravines can be lonely and violent places averse to settlement as nothing can be built along their steep sides. The word ravine itself derives from the archaic rapin, which is a violent seizure of property. During times of heavy rains and snow melt, a ravine may be filled with violent, rushing water.
Vocabulary lists containing ravine
"The Ravine," Vocabulary from the short story
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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"The Ravine" by Graham Salisbury
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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.
Maybe the buyers are huge Ohtani fans who live in, say, Japan and can’t quite make it out to Chavez Ravine to add to their collection of memorabilia.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
Chavez Ravine is now officially known as Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium and, yeah, on Thursday it was awful hearing public address announcer Todd Leitz introduce it like that.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
ORLANDO, Fla. — El domingo se volvió a frustrar el sueño de Chavez Ravine.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2025
In the losses at Chavez Ravine, the majors’ second-highest scoring offense struggled to hone that ethos.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025
“The Ravine will do this time of day.”
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
