valley

noun

val·​ley ˈva-lē 

plural valleys

1

a

: 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

3

a

: hollow, depression

b

: the place of meeting of two slopes of a roof that form on the plan a reentrant angle

Synonyms

• dale
• dene [British]
• hollow
• vale

Examples of valley in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Sandy and gravelly soils predominate on the valley floors, providing excellent drainage for the vines. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

A day after firefighters got a reprieve with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph (56 kph) on the coast and in valleys and 55 mph (88 kph) in the mountains before dawn, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said. —Josh Dubose, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025

Winds could gust up to 70 mph in the mountains and 50 mph along the coast and in the valleys, the NWS says. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

When continental ice sheets melt, water comes off in big rivers that dig lakes in stream valleys and pile up gravels as hills. —John McPhee, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing valley

• inter-valley
• lily of the valley
• rift valley
• San Joaquin valley fever
• valley fever

Kids Definition

valley

noun

val·​ley ˈval-ē 

plural valleys

: an area of lowland between ranges of hills or mountains