highland

1 of 2

noun

high·​land ˈhī-lənd How to pronounce highland (audio)
: elevated or mountainous land

highland

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to a highland
2
capitalized : of or relating to the Highlands of Scotland

Examples of highland in a Sentence

Noun there are permanent glaciers in the cool, humid highlands of the Pacific Northwest
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Fires also burned across Colombia’s Andes highlands, as well as parts of that country’s Amazon territory. Manuela Andreoni, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 The region is resource-rich, with raw metals buried under sprawling mountainous highlands dotted with agricultural villages. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024 In the highlands of northern Israel, archaeologists uncovered a small stone artifact of colossal importance. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Lev-Ram: The highlands of Guatemala is where this came to her, this epiphany. Fortune Editors, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2024 Their location may offer a clue: The site—situated near the equator, on the eastern side of Africa’s Great Rift Valley—occupies a low-lying basin surrounded by highlands, per the statement. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 Up in the highlands of the Ethiopian plateau grows a tree with bright red fruit that came to profoundly shape morning rituals for people all over the world. Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024 Other differences included a preference for highlands, an apparently healthy life, but a young death at about age 20. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024 Neither congressman has called for division-sized maneuver formations to cross the border into Mexico, like American cavalry and aircraft pursuing Pancho Villa over Chihuahua’s steppe highlands. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Adjective
The highland town is surrounded by lush countryside in northern Sulawesi, home to the Minahasa people and an amazing diversity of wildlife. The Economist, 26 May 2020 Under four miles, the easy trail rings a highland lake that reflects the steep and treeless mountains surrounding it. Elaine Glusac, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2020 Maybe their bloodline spirits crossed, perhaps hundreds of years ago across a highland moor, their prey the red grouse. Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Mar. 2020 Wearing the trappings of highland Mexican warriors could communicate that the Maya leader had military prowess. Lizzie Wade, Science | AAAS, 27 Feb. 2020 Now the divide between a wealthier, more European-descended lowland east and a more indigenous, poorer, highland west is once again exposed. Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2019 Two ancient Christian sites, in the highland towns of Axum and Lalibela, are undergoing restoration. The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019 The best choice is colonial or highland bentgrass, but as mentioned above, plant perennial ryegrass with it at about 4 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet. oregonlive, 27 Sep. 2019 Torres’ support is strongest in Guatemala’s poorer rural and highland areas. Ciara Nugent, Time, 11 Aug. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'highland.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of highland was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near highland

Cite this Entry

“Highland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highland. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

highland

1 of 2 noun
high·​land ˈhī-lənd How to pronounce highland (audio)
: elevated or mountainous land

highland

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to a highland
2
capitalized : of or relating to the Highlands of Scotland

Geographical Definition

Highland

geographical name

High·​land ˈhī-lənd How to pronounce Highland (audio)
1
city in southeastern California east of San Bernardino population 53,104
2
town in northwestern Indiana south of Hammond population 23,727
3
administrative area of northern Scotland bordering the North Sea and the Atlantic area 9806 square miles (25,398 square kilometers), population 232,132

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