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agravar

ah-grah-BAHR/a.ɣɾa.ˈβaɾ/

to worsen

Also: to aggravate, to exacerbate
VerbB2regular ar
A small crack in a stone dam getting larger with water gushing through it.
gerundagravando
past Participleagravado
infinitiveagravar

📝 In Action

Sus palabras solo sirvieron para agravar el conflicto.

B1

His words only served to worsen the conflict.

La falta de lluvia puede agravar la crisis económica en la región.

B2

The lack of rain can aggravate the economic crisis in the region.

No menciones ese tema ahora, podrías agravar la situación.

B2

Don't mention that topic now; you could make the situation worse.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • empeorar (to worsen)
  • exacerbar (to exacerbate)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • agravar la situación – to make the situation worse
  • agravar el problema – to worsen the problem
  • agravar las tensiones – to heighten tensions

to become more serious

Also: to decline
VerbB2regular ar
A person lying in bed with a thermometer in their mouth and a very red face, looking more tired than before.
gerundagravando
past Participleagravado
infinitiveagravar

📝 In Action

Si el paciente no toma su medicina, su estado se puede agravar.

B2

If the patient doesn't take his medicine, his condition could become more serious.

La infección se agravó durante la noche.

B2

The infection worsened during the night.

El médico teme que el clima frío agrave su asma.

C1

The doctor fears the cold weather will worsen her asthma.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • complicarse (to get complicated)
  • empeorar (to get worse)

Antonyms

  • sanar (to heal)
  • recuperarse (to recover)

Common Collocations

  • agravarse el estado de salud – for one's health to decline further
  • síntomas que se agravan – symptoms that get worse

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesagravaran
yoagravara
túagravaras
vosotrosagravarais
nosotrosagraváramos
él/ella/ustedagravara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesagraven
yoagrave
túagraves
vosotrosagravéis
nosotrosagravemos
él/ella/ustedagrave

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesagravaron
yoagravé
túagravaste
vosotrosagravasteis
nosotrosagravamos
él/ella/ustedagravó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesagravaban
yoagravaba
túagravabas
vosotrosagravabais
nosotrosagravábamos
él/ella/ustedagravaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesagravan
yoagravo
túagravas
vosotrosagraváis
nosotrosagravamos
él/ella/ustedagrava
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "agravar" in Spanish:

to aggravate→to decline→to exacerbate→to worsen→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: agravar

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the best synonym for 'agravar'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
grave(serious/heavy) — Adjective
gravedad(gravity/seriousness) — Noun
agravamiento(worsening) — Noun
agravante(aggravating factor) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'aggravare', formed by 'ad' (towards) and 'gravis' (heavy). It literally means 'to make something heavier'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: aggravateFrench: aggraverItalian: aggravare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'agravar' a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, like 'hablar'.

What is the difference between 'empeorar' and 'agravar'?

'Empeorar' is more common in daily speech, while 'agravar' is slightly more formal and emphasizes the 'weight' or seriousness of the worsening.

How do I use it for health?

You can say 'agravar la enfermedad' (worsen the illness) or use it reflexively: 'Su salud se agravó' (His health got worse).