A1adjective 1K

Gray

UK /["/ɡreɪ/"]/ US /["/ɡreɪ/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

having the colour of smoke or ashes

Listen to definition

In simple words: A color that is a mix of black and white.

Examples

• The sky is often gray before it rains.
• She wore a beautiful gray dress to the party.
• My favorite color is gray because it is so calm.
• The elephant is a large gray animal found in the wild.
• He decided to paint the walls gray to make the room feel bigger.

Usage notes

Use 'gray' to describe things like weather, objects, or emotions. It's suitable for most contexts, but avoid using overly casual language when describing important things in a formal setting.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a cloudy day: clouds are gray.

Collocations

• gray sky
• gray hair
• gray area

Synonyms

• ash
• charcoal
• silver
• slate
• dull

Antonyms

• colorful
• bright
• vivid

Common mistakes

• 'Gray' is sometimes confused with 'grey' (British spelling).
• 'Gray' can be used as both an adjective and a noun, but learners sometimes forget to use it as a noun.