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

Speaking of which: Large portions of the valley’s land area have been sinking at record rates as farmers pump huge amounts of groundwater to grow their crops, new research shows. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024

Case in point: Gott’s Roadside, the best place in the valley for a burger, fries and shake. —Katie Sweeney, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Everything in the valley becomes muted; hibernation is the order of the day. —Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 26 Nov. 2024

Under the hills and valleys of Carroll County geologists find an odd assortment of rocks – products of earth’s complex geologic history. —Mary Ann Ashcraft, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024

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