variants
or less commonly grey
1
a
: of the color gray
b
: tending toward gray
blue-gray eyes
c
: dull in color
2
: having the hair gray : hoary
3
: clothed in gray
4
b
: prosaically ordinary : dull, uninteresting
the boring, gray dullness of government—
P. J. O'Rourke
P. J. O'Rourke5
: having an intermediate and often vaguely defined position, condition, or character
an ethically gray area
grayly
adverb
grayness
noun
variants
or less commonly grey
1
: any of a series of neutral colors ranging between black and white
2
: something (such as an animal, garment, cloth, or spot) of a gray color
3
a
: a soldier in the Confederate army during the American Civil War
b
often capitalized
: the Confederate army
variants
or less commonly grey
grayed also greyed; graying also greying; grays also greys
1
: to become gray
2
: age
also
: to contain an increasing percentage of older people
The town's population has grayed over the last two decades.
: to make gray
: the mks unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation equal to an energy of one joule per kilogram of irradiated material
—abbreviation Gy
Synonyms
Examples of gray in a Sentence
Adjective
What will you do when you are old and gray?
My friends have all gone gray.
It was a gray winter day.
the gray faces of the people in the crowd
Recent Examples on the WebAmanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The teenager added gray high socks and black boots and carried a small black handbag.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024
The activewear collection includes polos, shorts, joggers, hats and more, with colorways that include mauve wine, dark olive, total eclipse and heather gray that are designed to transition from on the golf course to off.
—Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024
Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 15 Aug. 2024
But in Japan, which is facing the challenges of a graying population, fewer full-time jobs and stagnant wages, restaurant operators must also grapple with rising costs and worker shortages.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gray 
Adjective
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The teenager added gray high socks and black boots and carried a small black handbag.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
Shop it in 11 colors, including light green and dark gray.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024
The activewear collection includes polos, shorts, joggers, hats and more, with colorways that include mauve wine, dark olive, total eclipse and heather gray that are designed to transition from on the golf course to off.
—Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024
Verb
Finally, as dawn grayed the air and mist rose off the lake, the father of the group stood at the truck, digging for something under the topper.
—Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 15 Aug. 2024
But in Japan, which is facing the challenges of a graying population, fewer full-time jobs and stagnant wages, restaurant operators must also grapple with rising costs and worker shortages.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gray
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Gray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
gray
1 of 2 noun
variants
or chiefly British grey
: any of a series of neutral colors ranging between black and white
gray
adjective
or chiefly British grey
gray
2 of 2 noun
: the mks unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation equal to an energy of one joule per kilogram of irradiated material
—abbreviation Gy
Biographical Definition
Gray
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Thomas 1716–1771 English poet
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