past and past participle
Someone cut a shape, picture, or words into hard material, or made a shape by cutting material away.
She carved a bird from a block of wood.
The design was carved into the stone.
American English
How to pronounce carved
verbB2Common word
KAHRVD
/kʰɑɹvd̚/
One syllable.
Form of carve
Someone cut a shape, picture, or words into hard material, or made a shape by cutting material away.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
past and past participle
Someone cut cooked meat into thin pieces, usually before serving it.
Dad carved the turkey at the table.
The roast had been carved before dinner.
past and past participle
Someone created time, space, or a position for someone or something through effort, usually with out after carved.
She carved out an hour for exercise each day.
The team had carved out a place for a new clinic.
Good to know
For this meaning, carved usually appears with out: carved out.
Useful expressions
to create time, space, or a position through effort
She carved out time for her family.
to divide something into parts, often in an unfair or unpleasant way
The deal carved up the company.
Related words & forms
The final e disappears before -ing: carving, not carveing.