raven

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noun

ra·ven ˈrā-vən

: a large, glossy-black bird (Corvus corax) that is widely distributed in northern parts of the northern hemisphere but now rare in most areas of the eastern and central U.S. and that differs from the closely related common crow chiefly in its larger size and wedge-shaped tail and in having the feathers of the throat narrow and pointed resulting in a shaggy appearance

also : any of various usually large and glossy black, corvine birds

raven

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adjective

: shiny and black like a raven's feathers

raven hair

raven

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verb

rav·en ˈra-vən

ravened; ravening ˈra-və-niŋ

ˈrav-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to feed greedily

: to prowl for food : prey

: plunder

transitive verb

: to devour greedily

: despoil

men … raven the earth, destroying its resources

New Yorker

ravener

ˈra-və-nər

ˈrav-nər

noun

Example Sentences

Adjective had dark eyes and raven hair Verb the rat ravened the poisoned bait just as we had hoped

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The judge on the show dressed as a very glamorous raven for the spooky holiday and gave PEOPLE a behind-the-scenes look at putting it together.

Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2022 Watch this short video of an intelligent raven who can quickly solve challenges.

Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 21 Oct. 2022 Multimedia artist Alejandro Martell, of the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago, painted a convivencia mural of a raven on plywood using paint markers.

Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2022 Dream likes to be accompanied by a talking raven who acts as a familiar, adviser, companion, and even just someone to talk to.

Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 July 2022 From shimmery raven to honey-gold blonde, here are the biggest summer hair colors, 2022 edition.

Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 13 May 2022 One raven will harass a dog that is trying to eat until the dog finally attempts to catch the bird.

John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2022 Capturing this, Singletary sculpts everything the raven might have seen in this new world.

Sarah Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2022 The second raven will pull the food dish out of the dog’s reach while the poor sled dog is preoccupied.

John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2022

Adjective

Today, most tortoise populations in the wild have fallen to 2 to 3 adults per square mile, largely due to climate change, loss of habitat and an increase in the raven population.

Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022 The pair met in Miami Beach, where the raven-haired beauty worked as a bartender.

Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2022 The first prize is $2,000, plus a trophy with a raven perched on top of a skull.

Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2022 With ten shade options, there’s a pencil for everyone from ashy blondes to raven-haired brunettes — and even a gray tone for mature hair.

Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 30 Sep. 2022 Attached a a raven, mouse, or spider just off-center on the wreath, then hang using a wide velvet or satin ribbon.

Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2022 Lil Flip is a raven do with ends flipped up just so, flirty and fierce.

Adam Bradley Adam Bradley Photographs By D’angelo Lovell Williams Styled By Ian Bradley Nick Haramis Photographs By Lise Sarfati Styled By Suzanne Koller Sasha Weiss Photographs By Justin French Susan Dominus Photographs By Luis Alberto Rodriguez Styled By Charlotte Collet, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022 Two of the most popular designs in this year's Halloween crop include a striking design motif that features a raven, on a pair of Venti-sized tumblers, one including a steel encasement for ultra-cold iced drinks all year long.

Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 16 Sep. 2022 For a little bit of an eerie vibe, add a faux raven or large spider.

Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022

Verb

The first thing was seeing a raven wheeling around in the wind before settling on an electrical post.

Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Nov. 2022 Maester, maester, send a messenger raven to my brother at King’s Landing at once!

Charlie Dektar, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2022 Her hair was raven-colored and layered, and her skin was flawless.

R29 Team, refinery29.com, 6 July 2022 The museum is six stories and has 11 galleries, and most notably holds the raven-shaped crown of Jigme Wangchuck, the second king of Bhutan, who ruled from 1926 to 1952.

Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2022 Netflix Dream and his trusty raven Matthew (Patton Oswalt).

Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Aug. 2022 Way back when, Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) was the very first raven before graduating to librarian.

Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 July 2022 Her hair was raven-coloured and layered, and her skin was flawless.

R29 Team, refinery29.com, 7 July 2022 As Smarch’s telling goes, the raven quickly gets caught up in the feather, failing to make his way to the nobleman’s daughter.

Sarah Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'raven.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hræfn; akin to Old High German hraban raven, Latin corvus, Greek korax

Verb

probably verbal derivative of ravin

Note: It is pointed out by the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, that given the Middle English attestation of the derivatives ravener "plunderer, predatory animal" and ravening "rapacious," this verb may also date to Middle English. Compare Anglo-French raviner "to steal, take away," apparently attested once.

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1637, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of raven was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century