Gray: meaning, definitions and examples

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gray

[ɡreɪ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

color

Of a color intermediate between black and white, as of ashes or an overcast sky.

Synonyms

grey, silver.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gray	Used in American English to describe a color that is between black and white. The sky was gray and overcast He wore a gray suit to the meeting
grey	Used in British English to describe a color that is between black and white. The kitten had soft, grey fur She painted her room in a light grey shade
silver	Refers to a shiny, metallic color or material. Often used to describe objects made of or resembling the precious metal silver. She wore a beautiful silver necklace The car has a sleek silver finish

Word

Description / Examples

gray

Used in American English to describe a color that is between black and white.

The sky was gray and overcast
He wore a gray suit to the meeting

grey

Used in British English to describe a color that is between black and white.

The kitten had soft, grey fur
She painted her room in a light grey shade

silver

Refers to a shiny, metallic color or material. Often used to describe objects made of or resembling the precious metal silver.

She wore a beautiful silver necklace
The car has a sleek silver finish

Examples of usage

The sky was a dull gray.
She wore a gray sweater.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

color

A color between black and white; an achromatic color of any lightness between the extremes of black and white.

Synonyms

grey.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gray	Another American English spelling of 'grey'. The cat's fur is gray and soft. They have a gray car parked outside.
grey	Used in British English to describe the same color as 'gray'. His hair turned grey as he aged. She painted her room in a lovely shade of grey.

Word

Description / Examples

gray

Another American English spelling of 'grey'.

The cat's fur is gray and soft.
They have a gray car parked outside.

grey

Used in British English to describe the same color as 'gray'.

His hair turned grey as he aged.
She painted her room in a lovely shade of grey.

Examples of usage

He painted his room in shades of gray.
The cat had beautiful gray fur.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

British spelling

The spelling of the color 'gray' used in Britain.

Synonyms

grey.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gray	Use 'gray' when writing in American English. It is the preferred spelling in the United States. The sky was gray and overcast Her hair turned gray with age
grey	Use 'grey' when writing in British English. It is the preferred spelling in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries that follow British spelling conventions. The cat had beautiful grey fur The grey clouds signaled an impending storm

Word

Description / Examples

gray

Use 'gray' when writing in American English. It is the preferred spelling in the United States.

The sky was gray and overcast
Her hair turned gray with age

grey

Use 'grey' when writing in British English. It is the preferred spelling in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries that follow British spelling conventions.

The cat had beautiful grey fur
The grey clouds signaled an impending storm

Examples of usage

She preferred the British spelling of the word, 'grey.'

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'gray' comes from the Old English word 'grǣg', which has been used since at least the 8th century.
In Middle English, 'gray' was often spelled as 'grey', a spelling still common in British English today.
The term denotes both a color and is sometimes used figuratively to describe things that are ambiguous or unclear.

Art and Design

Gray is often used in art to create depth and shadow; it helps other colors stand out.
In design, it's a neutral color that helps balance vibrant colors, making spaces feel calm and sophisticated.
Many famous artworks feature extensive use of gray to convey mood, especially in pieces from the monochrome or abstract art movements.

Psychology

Gray is often associated with feelings of neutrality, balance, and calmness but can also evoke feelings of dullness.
In psychological terms, people who like gray may prefer to avoid extremes and seek compromise.
Some studies suggest that environments dominated by gray can lead to feelings of sadness or boredom if not balanced with brighter colors.

Pop Culture

In various fantasy and fictional works, characters dressed in gray often symbolize neutrality or mystery, such as the 'Grey Jedi' in Star Wars.
Gray has appeared frequently in fashion trends, representing sophistication and elegance, especially during the 1920s and 1960s.
The color gray is often used in movies to depict sorrow or outdated settings, influencing viewers' emotional responses.

Nature

Gray whales are among the largest mammals on earth and migrate long distances each year, showcasing the beauty of this color in nature.
Many animals have gray fur or feathers to help them blend into their environments, aiding in camouflage from predators.
Storm clouds are typically gray, often signaling rain or thunderstorms and showing the color's connection to weather patterns.

Translations

Translations of the word "gray" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cinza

🇮🇳 धूसर

🇩🇪 grau

🇮🇩 abu-abu

🇺🇦 сірий

🇵🇱 szary

🇯🇵 灰色 (はいいろ)

🇫🇷 gris

🇪🇸 gris

🇹🇷 gri

🇰🇷 회색 (회색)

🇸🇦 رمادي

🇨🇿 šedý

🇸🇰 sivý

🇨🇳 灰色 (huī sè)

🇸🇮 siv

🇮🇸 grár

🇰🇿 сұр

🇬🇪 ნაცრისფერი

🇦🇿 boz

🇲🇽 gris

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,847, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

...
2844 promised
2845 respond
2846 preserved
2847 gray
2848 demonstrate
2849 decree
2850 shaft
...