What does raveling mean?
Raveling is the present participle and gerund of ravel, a verb that can describe either threads becoming tangled or frayed, or the action of drawing them apart. In everyday use, it most often suggests deterioration: a sweater is raveling at the cuffs, or yarn is raveling into a snarl. It can also describe deliberate disentanglement, as when someone raveling a knotted length of yarn. The word is useful in descriptions of textiles, knots, and metaphorical tangles. In American English it is normally spelled raveling; British usage usually favors ravelling, though the pronunciation and meanings are broadly the same.
verbRaveling means becoming tangled or frayed; it can also refer to disentangling or drawing apart threads.
- To become tangled, snarled, or frayed, especially fabric or thread.
- To untangle or draw apart threads, yarn, or knots.
"The old sweater was raveling around the cuffs."
"The sweater is raveling around the cuffs."
"She spent the afternoon raveling the tangled yarn into separate strands."
Raveling has a double life: the same word can describe a knot tightening and a knot coming loose.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does raveling come from?
Raveling descends through Middle English rafelen from Old French raveler, a word associated with both tangling and untangling. The Old French verb was related to raver, the source of English rave and raver. Its history reflects the verb's long-standing ability to describe threads becoming disordered and, conversely, being separated into orderly strands.
How raveling is actually used
Raveling is more literary and somewhat less common than unraveling. American English normally uses the spelling raveling, while British English usually prefers ravelling.
Easily confused with raveling
Raveling can describe threads becoming tangled or frayed as well as being disentangled, whereas unraveling specifically describes something becoming untangled or being untangled.