gravegrave2 ●●○ adjective 
Matthew’s life is in grave danger. The report expressed grave concern over the technicians’ lack of training. I have grave doubts about his ability. The situation is becoming very grave.► see thesaurus at seriousRegisterIn everyday English, people usually use serious rather than grave, and seriously rather than gravely:· I have serious doubts about whether he’s up to the job.· I’m seriously worried about her.2looking or sounding quiet and serious, especially because something important or worrying has happened SYN sombre: Turnbull’s face was grave as he told them about the accident.—gravely adverb: Adam nodded gravely. We are gravely concerned (=very concerned) about these developments. → gravity
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "It would be a grave mistake," said the president, "to ignore the problem, and pretend that it will go away."
- "We might be too late," she said gravely.
- a grave mistake
- A thick fog descended on the mountain, and I knew that we were in grave danger.
- Dr. Fromm looked grave. "I have some bad news," he said.
- His expression became very grave when we told him what had happened.
- Holmes looked grave, and stood deep in worried thought for a minute or two.
- I have grave doubts that this new government will last.
- The ambassador declared that there would be grave consequences if the hostages were not released.
- The situation is grave -- war now seems inevitable.
- There was a grave risk that the operation would leave him partly paralysed.
- Although, now she came to think about it, maybe such caution had been a grave mistake.
- His expression was grave and he looked deep in thought.
- Luch looked over at Hector for his smile before bowing grave thanks.
- Oppenheimer was, by nature, a philosophical, rather grave person, but some of his colleagues were anything but.
- The advance of the disease presents a grave threat to the livestock industry.
THESAURUSvery bad
very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes: · Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital.· The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.· Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.
very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses: · He suffered severe injuries in a car crash.· The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries.· severe epilepsy
used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse: · A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger.· The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.
used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly: · She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.· In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help: · The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in.· The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly: · In 1991, the food supply situation became critical.· Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die: · Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness.· The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.
spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important: · For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.
not joking not joking or laughing, or not pretending: · His voice sounded serious.· They seem to be serious about their relationship.
very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony: · My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals.· The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens: · She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave.· He listened with a grave expression on his face.
British English (also somber American English) written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen: · They sat in sombre silence.· The meeting began in a sombre mood.
very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced: · He was a rather earnest-looking young man.· ‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Matthew’s life is in grave danger. The report expressed grave concern over the technicians’ lack of training. I have grave doubts about his ability.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs. The economy is now in grave peril. an unmarked grave
Matthew’s life is in grave danger. The report expressed grave concern over the technicians’ lack of training. I have grave doubts about his ability. (=very great concern)· This disagreement was a matter of grave concern to the US.
(=very great)· You have put us all in grave danger.
They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs.· They have some serious doubts as to his honesty.
(=extremely serious, with serious results)· He has committed a grave error.
(=serious and important worries)· Most of us have grave misgivings about the idea of human cloning.
· There was a serious mistake in the instructions.
· The decision to take the money was a serious mistake.
The economy is now in grave peril.· They had serious reservations about the plan.
(=real and big)· The most serious risk of flooding this evening is on the River Wye.
(=completely silent in a mysterious or uncomfortable way)
an unmarked grave· He had gone with a friend to visit the war graves in Flanders.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· It was so grave, so mad.· If the matters concerned had not been so grave, it would have been equal to any comedy.
· Two of those wounded have very grave injuries.· The charges in this case are very grave, and they are entirely false.· He stopped dictating to take a phone call and I saw his face become shocked, then very grave.· It is on the contrary a very grave flaw, latent but pernicious in its effects.
NOUN· However, there was grave concern about the future of the avionic department there.· He told them he had received reports that had caused him grave concern.· As for Stewart, the family developed grave concerns about his health.· This matter is of the gravest concern to me, and to the good name of this unit.· The Parish Council have asked me to express their grave concern that such an incident could have occurred at all.· They watched with grave concern the formidable ascent of U2.· It is a matter of grave concern.
· This has grave consequences for Britain.· Even a tiny fling, even a protected one, can still have the gravest consequence.· The paradox is all the stranger because the power shortage has had predictably grave consequences for economic growth.
· Mr. Flannery Is there not a grave danger of the former Soviet Union lapsing into anarchy?· I put myself to sleep each night by imagining that I am in grave danger.· The building now stands in grave danger from the weather, derelict and in ruins.· Huamanga, which had rejected all political influence, had few partisans in Congress and thereby found itself in grave danger.· Lynda La Plante is in grave danger of burning herself out and it's no laughing matter.· There is also a grave danger that the essence of education will be forgotten.· I have placed you in the gravest danger.· The four said their actions were reasonable, given what they alleged were the potentially grave dangers to the environment.
· But there is grave doubt among environmentalists as to whether the Government will fulfil its promises according to schedule.· I had grave doubts about where he might take it.· In my talk with Alec he himself expressed grave doubts whether he wished to take it on.· There must, too, be the gravest doubts about a system which excludes those who prefer not to join a union.· The gravest doubt which has assailed historians about Charlemagne's moral and educational programme is whether it had much effect.· I have grave doubts about that.· Simply as a proposition this is open to grave doubt.
· What sins, what meannesses, what grave errors I had committed in the previous ten years had been forgiven me.· It would be a grave error to oversimplify any of these outcomes.· He had committed a grave error in lending his approval, together with that of the Church he represented, to the Exhibition.· She had made - and with far less justification than her father - the same grave error as he.· He explained that we had made a grave error - it was Saturday afternoon.· But as we left the tarmac road and headed up the hill I made a grave error.· Here indeed, I thought, must lie some of those sins, meannesses and grave errors.
· An abundance of grave goods, especially painted wares, accompanied the burials.· The other grave goods provide what little evidence we have for the economic basis and material culture of its population.· The deceased were deposited on their left side and the grave goods were reduced in quantity and included very little painted ware.· Tomb inscriptions, the coffin, statues, stelae and other grave goods therefore bore the name.· In many cultures, various objects, termed grave goods, were commonly deposited with human burials.· All the associated grave goods belonged to the fourth century, the cemetery itself overlying earlier field boundaries and enclosures.· He had no grave goods and that marked him pretty low both on the social scale and with the archaeologists.· A similar ambivalence prevailed in the provision of grave goods as in the bestowal of presents.
· Orkney Presbytery followed suit, stating their very grave misgivings about the procedures followed by Orkney Islands Council.· As Soap beached the craft and ushered the two ashore, Pooley viewed the place with the gravest misgivings.
· Although, now she came to think about it, maybe such caution had been a grave mistake.
· That is the gravest problem of all.· The graver problems await the end of the war.· Last night, it shouldered a graver problem.· I shall argue that the suggestions which have been made carry with them grave problems.
· The Opposition have grave reservations about the Bill.· Indeed, Humphrey had privately expressed grave reservations about the war, which Johnson had ignored.
· In other words there is a grave risk of escalation.· Some of these women took grave risks to start their businesses and faced even more danger when they succeeded.
· The president will also visit the grave sites of 12 youths killed in recent bombings.· Two acres have been added to its six-acre collection of grave sites.
· The advance of the disease presents a grave threat to the livestock industry.· Hayek views the growing dominance of the conception of law as thesis as posing a grave threat to liberty.· The inflationary spiral constituted a grave threat which, if not halted, could jeopardise the entire economy.· It can indeed present a grave threat to democracy.· But the gravest threat to health is posed by the total collapse of the economy, and the ensuing chronic poverty.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1grave problems, situations, or worries are very great or bad: - The state now provided something of a protective safety net from the cradle to the grave.
- They should also inform shoppers as to the product's environmental friendliness from cradle to grave - evaluated according to standardized criteria.
- By continuing to make racist comments before the committee, he really dug his own grave.
- I felt the sinking whir of the back wheel as it dug its own grave.
- I thought that before they shot you, they made you dig your own grave first.
- If he went against this young man sitting opposite him, he would in effect dig his own grave.
- She sounded like she had one foot in the grave.
- Should any fellow be passing by, he must refuse their invitation or else they will dance him to a watery grave.
Matthew’s life is in grave danger. The report expressed grave concern over the technicians’ lack of training. I have grave doubts about his ability. The situation is becoming very grave.► see thesaurus at seriousRegisterIn everyday English, people usually use serious rather than grave, and seriously rather than gravely:· I have serious doubts about whether he’s up to the job.· I’m seriously worried about her.2looking or sounding quiet and serious, especially because something important or worrying has happened SYN sombre: Turnbull’s face was grave as he told them about the accident.—gravely adverb: Adam nodded gravely. We are gravely concerned (=very concerned) about these developments. → gravity