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Definition of grave 1 adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    grave1

     adjective
    adjective
    NAmE//ɡreɪv//
     
    (grav‧er, grav‧est) (formal)
     
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  1. 1(of situations, feelings, etc.) very serious and important; giving you a reason to feel worried The police have expressed grave concern about the missing child's safety. The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done. We were in grave danger.
  2. 2(of people) serious in manner, as if something sad, important, or worrying has just happened She looked very grave as she entered the room. see gravity Thesaurusserious
    • grave
    • earnest
    • solemn
    These words all describe someone who thinks and behaves carefully and sensibly, but often without much joy or laughter.
    • serious thinking about things in a careful and sensible way; not laughing about something:He's really a very serious person. Be serious for a minute; this is important.
    • grave (somewhat formal) (of a person) serious in manner, as if something sad, important, or worrying has just happened:She looked very grave as she entered the room.
    • earnest serious and sincere:The earnest young doctor answered all our questions. an earnest attempt to communicate
    • solemn looking or sounding very serious, without smiling; done or said in a very serious and sincere way:The minister wore a solemn expression. I made a solemn promise that I would return.
    Patterns
    • a(n) serious/grave/earnest/solemn expression/face
    • a serious/solemn mood/atmosphere
grave‧ly
 
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adverb She is gravely ill. Local people are gravely concerned. He nodded gravely as I poured out my troubles.See grave in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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