What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
grate
Example
I need to grate some cheese for the pizza. [grate: verb]
Example
The car's brakes made a loud grating noise. [grating: adjective]
Example
The fire was burning brightly in the grate. [grate: noun]
scrape
Example
I need to scrape the paint off the wall before repainting it. [scrape: verb]
Example
The chair made a loud scraping noise as it was moved across the floor. [scraping: adjective]
Example
He fell off his bike and got a scrape on his knee. [scrape: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scrape is more commonly used than grate in everyday language. Scrape is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while grate is less common and is mostly used in cooking or fireplace-related contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between grate and scrape?
Both grate and scrape are relatively informal words, but grate may be slightly more formal due to its association with cooking and culinary arts.
