shaving

noun

shav·​ing ˈshā-viŋ How to pronounce shaving (audio)
Synonyms of shavingnext
1
: the act of one that shaves
2
: something shaved off
wood shavings

Examples of shaving in a Sentence

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 procedure does require head shaving, but for Broten, that was a no-brainer. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The device's stainless steel blades make quick work of lint, fuzz, and pills on everything from clothing to upholstery while its two speeds and three shaving heights help tackle heavier jobs. — Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 The videos shot selfie-style show Kasemeier completing mundane tasks like shaving, or making a meal for his kids while giving the internet a glimpse into his week as a dad. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026 If non-slip stickers on the shower floor or a removable accessory like a shaving mirror left stickiness on the fiberglass, use a paper towel saturated in olive oil to cover the area. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shaving

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shaving was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing shaving

Rhymes for shaving

See All Rhymes for shaving

Browse Nearby Words

shavie
shaving
shaving board
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaving. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

shaving

noun
shav·​ing
ˈshā-viŋ
1
: the act of one that shaves
2
: something shaved off
wood shavings

More from Merriam-Webster on shaving

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shaving

Nglish: Translation of shaving for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shaving

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All