Word
gravestone
Phoneticsgrave·stone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹeɪvˌstoʊn/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪvstəʊn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a stone that marks where a person is buried, usually with their name and dates on it.
n. a stone marker placed over a burial site, typically inscribed with the name, dates, and epitaph of the deceased.
Examples
“We place flowers by her gravestone every spring.”
“They stop at the old churchyard to clean their grandfather's gravestone and read the inscription.”
“Moss had softened the letters on the gravestone, but the dates were still clear enough to remind visitors how short her life had been.”
Examples
simple
“We place flowers by her gravestone every spring.”
contextual
“They stop at the old churchyard to clean their grandfather's gravestone and read the inscription.”
complex
“Moss had softened the letters on the gravestone, but the dates were still clear enough to remind visitors how short her life had been.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gravestone” in context.
Verb
01. carve gravestone
“They carved the gravestone with her name and dates.”
verb + noun
02. clean gravestone
“Volunteers helped clean the old gravestone in the village.”
verb + noun
03. gravestone marks
“This gravestone marks the place where the soldier rests.”
noun + verb
04. gravestone reads
“The small gravestone reads, Beloved father, 1930-1999.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. broken gravestone
“A broken gravestone lay on the grass after the storm.”
adj + noun
06. old gravestone
“We found a very old gravestone under the big tree in the churchyard.”
adj + noun
07. simple gravestone
“My grandfather wanted a simple gravestone with just his name.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. flowers on gravestone
“Someone left fresh flowers on the gravestone.”
noun + prep + noun
09. inscription on gravestone
“We could not read the inscription on the gravestone.”
noun + prep + noun
10. name on gravestone
“The name on the gravestone was almost gone.”
noun + prep + noun
11. lay flowers on a gravestone
“We laid flowers on the gravestone on her birthday.”
12. read a gravestone inscription
“He stopped to read the gravestone inscription carefully.”
Real-World Examples
“The rows of white marble gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery, located on 624 acres adjacent to the Potomac River and the Pentagon, reflect the extensive history of military service in the United States and illustrate its human costs.” “A gravestone commemorating Thomas Paine was discovered yesterday, buried just beneath the roots of a hemlock tree, raising new questions about the final resting place of the influential Revolutionary War writer and the mind behind 'Common Sense.” “The gravestone features the name Satchmo inscribed in gold script, with Louis Armstrong in gold block letters beneath it.” “The gravestone is equipped with a sensor, which means that when no one is nearby, it only displays the individual’s name along with their birth and death years.” Etymology
From Middle English graveston, gravestone, gravestan, equivalent to grave + stone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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