carve

verb

ˈkärv How to pronounce carve (audio)
carved; carving
Synonyms of carvenext

transitive verb

1
: to cut with care or precision
carved fretwork
2
: to make or get by or as if by cutting
—often used with out
carve out a career
3
: to cut into pieces or slices
carved the turkey

intransitive verb

1
: to cut up and serve meat
2
: to work as a sculptor or engraver
carver noun

Synonyms of carve

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Examples of carve in a Sentence

We carved an ice sculpture. Who is going to carve the turkey? He carved while I made the gravy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The collection first debuted in 2024 with the Minera table and the Branch console, both carved from solid marble into flowing, sculptural forms. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 The career Bowen ultimately carved out for himself is one that most artists never attain. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2026 Until about 30 years ago, when the major league minimum pay crossed $100,000, player salaries were low enough that carving another share out of the pot had a real impact in each man’s earning potential for the year. — Stephanie Apstein, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026 Pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change have carved deeply into the western monarch population. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carve

Word History

Etymology

Middle English kerven, from Old English ceorfan; akin to Old High German kerban to notch, Greek graphein to scratch, write

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carve was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing carve

Rhymes for carve

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Browse Nearby Words

carvacryl
carve
carved/etched/set/written in stone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carve. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

carve

verb
ˈkärv How to pronounce carve (audio)
carved; carving
1
: to cut with care or exactness
2
: to cut into pieces or slices
3
: to cut up and serve meat
carver noun
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