dune

noun

ˈdün How to pronounce dune (audio)
 also  ˈdyün
: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind
dunelike
ˈdün-ˌlīk How to pronounce dune (audio)
 also  ˈdyün-
adjective

Examples of dune in a Sentence

We wandered over the dunes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Located in Panama City Beach, St. Andrews State Park is right on the water and features white-sand beaches, hiking trails through dunes and pine forests, and water put-ins directly from the campground. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025 The Navy has built sea walls and worked to restore coastal dunes and marshlands to protect its Virginia properties, but the risks continue to increase. Paul Bierman, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025 Only one mile from the property, the soft, white sand Amagansett beaches are devoid of crowds and provide panoramic vistas of dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 Its name has many meanings but most commonly refers to a dune, or low hill of sand. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dune

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English dūn down — more at down

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dune was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dune. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

dune

noun
: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind

More from Merriam-Webster on dune

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