graze

USAGE SUMMARY

'graze' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb meaning to eat something lightly, or eat a small amount of food quickly. For example, "The cows were grazing on the grassy hillside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hippos with young in tow are the most aggressive, sometimes attacking cattle that come to graze on the banks of the Niger.

The Guardian

Hebridean sheep graze freely on the Machrihanish Dunes course, serving as natural lawnmowers, and the rough is studded with purple pyramid, frog and marsh orchids.

The Guardian - Travel

Now, they peer out from shaded watchtowers at miles of flat water meadows where sheep graze and, on the northern horizon, at a low brown mud-brick village with some trees.

The New York Times

Martha and Saratu and Rehab's families all said yes; Yagana, an orphan, received the blessing of her foster father; Kume was found sitting under a tree in the primary school – she had brought the family's herd to graze around the deserted, weed-choked building.

The Guardian

However, the school faces the challenge of having an open compound that is inviting to community members to come and graze their animals.

The Guardian

The school has a watchman who would be checking to see that residents no longer come to graze their cattle on the school compound.

The Guardian

It would certainly be an incongruous scene for an energy boom, in the lightly wooded commuter belt countryside a few miles from Gatwick's perimeter, but with the flight paths pointing elsewhere, leaving the local horses and goats, even a field of llamas, to graze in peace.

The Guardian - Business

The forest was always a treasure trove for these villagers - a source of firewood, charcoal and building materials, and a place to graze and water cattle.

The Guardian

The only signs of life are the sheep from a local farm that graze on the weeds sprouting up through the Tarmac path that runs from the gates to the mine-head.

The Guardian

It involves a package of rights, such as the right to graze and to hunt, the right of access to sacred sites, and the right of transit.

The Economist

That is not always true. "Empty" land often supports herders who graze animals on it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "graze" to describe a light contact or abrasion, implying a gentle or glancing interaction rather than a forceful impact.

Common error

Avoid using "graze" to describe rapid or voracious eating. "Graze" implies a slow, steady process of feeding over time, not a quick consumption.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "graze" is as a verb, describing the action of animals feeding on grass or other vegetation. It can also function as a noun, referring to the act of grazing or a light abrasion. As Ludwig AI points out, it can also mean to scratch.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "graze" functions primarily as a verb, describing the action of animals feeding on grass or a light touch or abrasion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and versatile, widely used in various contexts but more frequently in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to use it accurately, particularly avoiding its misuse to describe rapid eating. Its related phrases include alternatives like "feed on" or "browse" for animals and "brush against" for light contacts. Remember to maintain a steady, unhurried connotation when using "graze" to ensure accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feed on

Focuses specifically on the act of eating something gradually, emphasizing the sustenance aspect.

browse

Implies selective eating of plants or vegetation, similar to how animals "graze".

feed

A more general term for providing food, where "graze" specifies how it is consumed.

touch lightly

Highlights the gentle contact aspect, similar to the physical interaction implied when something "grazes" another object.

brush against

Emphasizes the casual or unintentional contact that happens when something "grazes" past another surface.

scrape

Refers to a slight injury or abrasion, similar to the consequence of a "graze".

scratch

Describes a superficial mark or wound, akin to the mark left when something "grazes" a surface.

skim

Implies a quick and light pass over a surface, similar to how an object might "graze" another.

crease

Describes the action to mark with lines and ridges. "Graze" defines the same action.

range

Describes the action to wander at will from place to place. "Graze" defines the same action.

FAQs

How can I use "graze" in a sentence?

You can use "graze" to describe animals feeding on grass, as in "The sheep "graze" peacefully in the meadow", or to describe a light contact, such as "The bullet "grazed" his arm".

What is a good synonym for "graze" when describing animals eating?

Alternatives to "graze" include "feed on" or "browse", which also imply a gentle and leisurely eating of plants.

When is it appropriate to use "graze" to describe a physical contact?

"Graze" is appropriate when describing a light, glancing contact, often resulting in a slight abrasion or scratch. It implies the contact was not forceful or direct, unlike "collide" or "impact".

What's the difference between "graze" and "browse"?

While both "graze" and "browse" describe animals eating, "graze" typically refers to eating grasses or low-lying vegetation, while "browse" often refers to eating leaves, twigs, or other parts of woody plants.