1 valley | Definition of valley

valley

noun
val·​ley | \ ˈva-lē How to pronounce valley (audio) \
plural valleys

Definition of valley

1a : an elongate depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains
b : an area drained by a river and its tributaries
2 : a low point or condition
b : the place of meeting of two slopes of a roof that form on the plan a reentrant angle

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Synonyms for valley

Synonyms

dale, dene [British], hollow, vale

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Examples of valley in a Sentence

the valley will be the first to flood if the river rises

Recent Examples on the Web

Now that the Indian government has scrapped the region's special status, non-residents will be able to buy property in the valley and apply for jobs or scholarships that had previously been reserved for the state's residents. Jennifer Hauser And Bianca Britton, CNN, "Pakistan brought to a standstill for 'Kashmir hour' demonstrations," 30 Aug. 2019 Set back in a valley and flanked by mountains, Valdez Glacier Lake is a popular destination for paddlers and picnickers in summer, and cross-country skiers, hikers and snowmachiners in winter. Madeline Mcgee, Anchorage Daily News, "3 German tourists found dead in water near toe of Valdez Glacier," 31 July 2019 The poverty rate in the valley is between 20 and 25 percent. Ted Conover, Harper's magazine, "The Last Frontier," 22 July 2019 Blanca, named for the snow that covers its summit most of the year, is visible from almost everywhere in the valley and is considered sacred by the Navajo. Dan Baum, Harpers Magazine, "August 2019," 22 July 2019 Self-storage magnate B. Wayne Hughes launched his own house hunt in Phoenix around the same time Invitation did, eventually merging with a local competitor to give his American Homes 4 Rent about 3,100 houses in the valley. Peter Rudegeair, WSJ, "The Future of Housing Rises in Phoenix," 19 June 2019 Working-class neighborhoods in the valley were left to cope with living next to sooty factories, unregulated landfills and polluted waterways. Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "Burning River legacy: Towpath Trail spurs rediscovery of Cuyahoga Valley, erasing east-west divide," 9 June 2019 Located on the banks of the Columbia River (the same one that eventually makes its way down into the U.S. Pacific Northwest), Revelstoke sits in a valley smack-dab in the heart of Canada’s rugged Selkirk Mountains. Todd Plummer, Vogue, "Hard to Get to, Harder to Leave: Why Revelstoke, B.C. Is Skiing’s Hottest Destination Right Now," 22 Feb. 2019 Fresh places to stay are ramping up the options in the valley, too. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Next Great Food Scene, Beach Town, and More: The 2019 Trends We're Calling Now," 18 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'valley.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of valley

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for valley

Middle English valeye, borrowed from Anglo-French valee (early Old French valede), from val "valley" + -ee, noun suffix (here with augmentative force), going back to Latin -āta, feminine of -ātus -ate entry 1 — more at vale

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More Definitions for valley

valley

noun

English Language Learners Definition of valley

: an area of low land between hills or mountains
: a low period, point, or level

valley

noun
val·​ley | \ ˈva-lē How to pronounce valley (audio) \
plural valleys

Kids Definition of valley

: an area of lowland between ranges of hills or mountains

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More from Merriam-Webster on valley

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with valley

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for valley

Spanish Central: Translation of valley

Nglish: Translation of valley for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of valley for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about valley