often attributive
1
a
: the solid part of the surface of the earth
also
: a corresponding part of a celestial body (such as the moon)
b
: ground or soil of a specified situation, nature, or quality
dry land
c
: the surface of the earth and all its natural resources
2
: a portion of the earth's solid surface distinguishable by boundaries or ownership
bought land in the country
: such as
a
: country
the finest cheese in all the land
b
: a rural area characterized by farming or ranching
also
: farming or ranching as a way of life
wanted to move back to the land
4
: the people of a country
the land rose in rebellion
5
: an area of a partly machined surface (such as the inside of a gun barrel) that is left without machining
landed; landing; lands
1
: to set or put on shore from a ship : disembark
2
a
: to set down after conveying
b
: to cause to reach or come to rest in a particular place
never landed a punch
c
: to bring to a specified condition
his wit landed him in trouble
d
: to bring to a landing
land an airplane
e
: to complete successfully by landing
the skater landed all her jumps
1
a
: to go ashore from a ship : disembark
b
of a ship or boat
: to touch at a place on shore
2
a
: to come to the end of a course or to a stage in a journey : arrive
took a wrong turn and landed on a dead-end street
b
: to come to be in a condition or situation
landed in jail
c
: to strike or meet a surface (as after a fall)
landed on my head
d
: to alight on a surface
Synonyms
Examples of land in a Sentence
Noun
the land along the highway
The land stretched as far as you could see.
They cleared some land to grow crops.
After two days of sailing, we were miles from land.
They invaded the country by land and by sea.
They own land in Alaska.
They bought some land and built a house.
His lands extend as far as the eye can see.
He was the most powerful politician in the land.
the lands of the Far East
Verb
The plane landed on the runway.
We watched the seaplanes landing on the water.
The bird landed in a tree.
A butterfly landed on the flower.
Our flight was scheduled to land in Pittsburgh at 4:00.
It was raining heavily at the airport when we landed.
The pilot was able to land the plane on the runway.
The golf ball landed in the trees.
I could not see where the ball landed.
The cat fell from the tree but landed on its feet.
Recent Examples on the Web
TIME, 4 May 2024
Against all odds — and in Miami-Dade County those odds include a major real estate developer, the Bacardi family and pro-growth politicians — score rounds 11 and 12 for the underdog in a years-long fight over the fate of prime Kendall land.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024
The police have helped ease the stranglehold gangs had on the capital’s airport, allowing military aircraft to land.
—Andre Paultre, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Half-mast refers to flags flown on ships, while half-staff is used for flags flown on land.
—Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2024
Amid the bustling streets, this small triangular plot of land at Christopher Street and 7th Avenue South carries a legacy not known to most passersby.
—Josh Rivera, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Law enforcement officials removed the passengers, who were not identified, from the flight, which took off again to land at Newark airport.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 May 2024
Brown said other tribes, including some in Wisconsin, also have claims to reservation land in Illinois.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 1 May 2024
Basically, reopen lands to drilling and boost the industry in different ways.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Lindsay Lee Wallace, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
After 42 years, James finally lands a U.K. No. 1 studio album with Yummy.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024
Tramell Tillman — the actor who broke out in popular Apple series Severance — has landed a role in the eighth Mission: Impossible film.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024
Bryan, 47, laughed off his fall after landing on his back, videos shared on social media show.
—Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
The book, which lands on May 28, offers an abundance of recipes for the bird, plus sides, sauces and desserts, from chicken smash burgers and chicken and dumplings to red beans and rice and Mississippi Mud Pie.
—Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Mann turned out to be a very nice find in the trade for Gordon Hayward, which also landed Dāvis Bertāns and Vasilije Micić, and the Hornets showed their belief in him by starting him at point guard for an injured Ball following his arrival.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2024
The first to land on my table was a bright and floral hamachi crudo, finished tableside with a pour of green aguachile and orange dots of oil around the delicate pieces of fish topped with pink pickled onions, serrano and microgreens.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
The couple landed on a three-bedroom, one-bath house in the Fern Creek area.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
Around 1850, Samuel gave some of his land to two of his sons, John and Henry.
—TIME, 4 May 2024
Against all odds — and in Miami-Dade County those odds include a major real estate developer, the Bacardi family and pro-growth politicians — score rounds 11 and 12 for the underdog in a years-long fight over the fate of prime Kendall land.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024
The police have helped ease the stranglehold gangs had on the capital’s airport, allowing military aircraft to land.
—Andre Paultre, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Half-mast refers to flags flown on ships, while half-staff is used for flags flown on land.
—Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2024
Amid the bustling streets, this small triangular plot of land at Christopher Street and 7th Avenue South carries a legacy not known to most passersby.
—Josh Rivera, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Law enforcement officials removed the passengers, who were not identified, from the flight, which took off again to land at Newark airport.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 May 2024
Brown said other tribes, including some in Wisconsin, also have claims to reservation land in Illinois.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 1 May 2024
Basically, reopen lands to drilling and boost the industry in different ways.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Verb
Shortly after, the magazine landed its first ad from a major company, Budweiser.
—Lindsay Lee Wallace, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
After 42 years, James finally lands a U.K. No. 1 studio album with Yummy.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024
Tramell Tillman — the actor who broke out in popular Apple series Severance — has landed a role in the eighth Mission: Impossible film.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024
Bryan, 47, laughed off his fall after landing on his back, videos shared on social media show.
—Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
The book, which lands on May 28, offers an abundance of recipes for the bird, plus sides, sauces and desserts, from chicken smash burgers and chicken and dumplings to red beans and rice and Mississippi Mud Pie.
—Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Mann turned out to be a very nice find in the trade for Gordon Hayward, which also landed Dāvis Bertāns and Vasilije Micić, and the Hornets showed their belief in him by starting him at point guard for an injured Ball following his arrival.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2024
The first to land on my table was a bright and floral hamachi crudo, finished tableside with a pour of green aguachile and orange dots of oil around the delicate pieces of fish topped with pink pickled onions, serrano and microgreens.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
The couple landed on a three-bedroom, one-bath house in the Fern Creek area.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'land.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near land
Cite this Entry
“Land.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/land. Accessed 7 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
land
1 of 2 noun1
: the solid part of the surface of the earth
2
: a portion of the earth's surface
fenced land
marshy land
4
: real estate
owns land in Alaska
land
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to set or go ashore from a ship : disembark
b
: to stop at or near a place on shore
2
: to come down or bring down and settle on a surface
land a plane
3
: to bring to or arrive at a destination or a position or condition
land in jail
4
a
: to catch and bring in
land a fish
b
: secure entry 2 sense 3, gain
land a job
lander
noun
Legal Definition
land
noun1
: an area of the earth usually inclusive of improvements, bodies of water, and natural or man-made objects and extending indefinitely upward and downward compare air right
2
: an estate, interest, or right in land
land means both surface and mineral rights—California Public Resources Code
California Public Resources CodeBiographical Definition
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