carve out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral. Common in business, journalism, and academic writing.
Quick answer
What does “carve out” mean?
To create, establish, or secure something (such as a career, niche, or role) through deliberate, persistent effort, often against competition or constraints.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To create, establish, or secure something (such as a career, niche, or role) through deliberate, persistent effort, often against competition or constraints.
Can also mean to literally carve or cut something out of a material (e.g., wood, stone). In a figurative sense, it often implies defining a distinct space or identity within a broader, existing context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or grammatical usage. Minor preference in collocates; 'carve out a career' is slightly more common in BrE, while 'carve out a niche' is equally strong in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of effort, specialization, and strategic positioning.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American business and political journalism, but widely used in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “carve out” in a Sentence
[Subject - person/company] + carve out + [Direct Object - niche/role/reputation] + [Optional: from/in/for + noun phrase][Subject] + carve + [Direct Object] + out + [Optional: of/from + material]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carve out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She worked tirelessly to carve out a successful career in finance.
- The company has carved out a leading position in renewable tech.
- He carved the figure out of a single piece of oak.
American English
- They carved out a niche selling artisanal coffee online.
- The senator carved out a compromise on the bill.
- We need to carve out time for family this weekend.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The carve-out clause in the contract protected their intellectual property.
- After the merger, the carve-out business unit operated independently.
American English
- They negotiated a carve-out exception to the new regulations.
- The private equity firm specialized in carve-out transactions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The startup aims to carve out a significant share of the eco-friendly packaging market.'
Academic
'The scholar carved out a new theoretical framework within post-colonial studies.'
Everyday
'She carved out some time in her busy schedule for a weekly yoga class.'
Technical
'The surgeon used a laser to precisely carve out the damaged tissue.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carve out”
- Using it intransitively (INCORRECT: 'He carved out.' CORRECT: 'He carved out a career.').
- Confusing with 'carve up' (which means to divide, often unfairly).
- Using it for something easily obtained without struggle (e.g., 'He carved out his inheritance').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal. Common in business, journalism, and academic writing, but can be used in everyday conversation when discussing careers or personal time management.
'Build' is more general. 'Carve out' specifically implies creating something distinct by effort from within a larger, often competitive or resistant, context. It adds a nuance of struggle and definition.
Yes, this is a common metaphorical use (e.g., 'carve out an hour in my schedule'). It suggests time is a scarce resource from which you must cut/allocate a portion.
Yes. In business/legal contexts, a 'carve-out' is something that has been separated or excluded from a larger set (e.g., a 'carve-out' clause in a contract, or a 'carve-out' of a business unit during a sale).
To create, establish, or secure something (such as a career, niche, or role) through deliberate, persistent effort, often against competition or constraints.
Carve out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːv ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːrv ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Carve out a name for oneself”
- “Carve out a piece of the pie”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sculptor CARVING a statue OUT of a solid block of marble. Figuratively, you are the sculptor, and your career/niche is the statue you create from the 'block' of the market/world.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAREER/SUCCESS IS A SCULPTED OBJECT. The market/world is a resistant material (stone, wood). The individual is an artisan/craftsman.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'to carve out market share' most closely imply?