What does ravine mean?
A ravine is a deep, narrow channel or gorge in the ground, usually with steep rock faces on either side. Unlike the broad valleys often shown in postcards, a ravine has a sharply cut form: a stream may run along its bottom, paths and roads may follow it, and walls of exposed stone rise abruptly above it. The word is used for both natural features and erosion channels made by water, although in ordinary landscape description it usually implies a dramatic, steep-sided cleft. “Gorge” and “canyon” can overlap with the term, but “ravine” generally stresses the narrowness and steepness of the cut more strongly than their overall scale. It is a concrete geographic noun and is normally countable, as in “a narrow ravine” or “the path crossed an old ravine.” Its compact form makes it useful in reports of hiking, roads, floods, and erosion, while also giving vivid prose a compact image of depth and confinement.
nounA deep, narrow passage through the ground with steep sides, typically formed by running water or erosion.
- A deep, narrow passage in the ground with steep sides, especially one formed by a stream or other erosion.
"The narrow trail led into a ravine where the stream ran between steep rock walls."
"Flash floods swept through the ravine, carrying stones and branches downstream."
"The geological survey mapped a narrow ravine cutting through the limestone ridge."
The standard plural is ravines, used when referring to more than one narrow, steep-sided passage in the ground.
"Several ravines cut across the plateau."
The word’s path through English began with Latin ideas of seizure and plundering before settling on a dramatic crack in the landscape.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How ravine is actually used
Ravine is a countable geographical term used in ordinary speech, geography, travel writing, and reports of erosion or severe weather. It often conveys a sharper and more enclosed feature than a general valley.
Easily confused with ravine
A gully is a narrow channel formed by running water, whereas a ravine generally emphasizes a deeper, steep-sided cut in the ground.
A canyon is usually a larger or more extensive steep-sided valley, while a ravine is typically narrower and more sharply enclosed.