often attributive
1
: land in or predominantly in grass
2
: a tract of grassland: such as
a
: a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
b
: one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil
Examples of prairie in a Sentence
Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies.
The train tracks extend over miles of prairie.
Recent Examples on the Web
What do beef tallow, prairie dresses and the quiet luxury trend all have in common?
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
These and other prairie plants provide an ideal habitat for hundreds of pollinators and insect species including bunchgrass skippers and dreamy dusky wing butterflies.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Sheba Abernathy, a resident of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, serves as volunteer steward at Superior Street Prairie, a remnant prairie in Calumet City.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Surrounded by expressways and suburban homes, the prairie escaped waves of suburban development in the 20th century and was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1980.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prairie
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
These and other prairie plants provide an ideal habitat for hundreds of pollinators and insect species including bunchgrass skippers and dreamy dusky wing butterflies.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Sheba Abernathy, a resident of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, serves as volunteer steward at Superior Street Prairie, a remnant prairie in Calumet City.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Surrounded by expressways and suburban homes, the prairie escaped waves of suburban development in the 20th century and was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1980.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prairie
Cite this Entry
“Prairie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prairie
noun
prai·rie
ˈpre(ə)r-ē 
: a large area of level or rolling grassland
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