grave
Very serious and important.
grave in a sentence
- The doctor's face turned grave as she studied the X-ray in silence.
- In a grave voice, the park keeper warned us that the ice on the lake was far too thin.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to grave?
- Aplayful
- Bserious
- Cjolly
- Dcheerful
Show the answer
B: serious. The other three mean the opposite of grave.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to grave?
- Asolemn
- Bserious
- Cstern
- Dplayful
Show the answer
D: playful. The other three mean nearly the same as grave.
Words that mean something similar
serious, solemn, stern
Words that mean the opposite
playful, cheerful, jolly
More words about character & personality
- gregarious: Enjoying the company of other people, or living in groups.
- gullible: Too ready to believe whatever you are told.
- hardy: Strong and able to cope with difficult conditions.
- haughty: Acting as if you are better than everyone else.
- headstrong: Determined to do what you want and refusing to listen.
- hearty: Warm, cheerful and full of energy.
- hospitable: Friendly and welcoming to visitors.
- humble: Not boasting about how good you are.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test