mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇n-tᵊn 

often attributive

1

a

: a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill

The sun set behind the mountains.

b

: an elongated ridge

2

a

: a great mass

a mountain of a man

—E. K. Brown

b

: a vast number or quantity

a mountain of mail

a mountain of debt

Synonyms

• peak
• alp
• mount

Examples of mountain in a Sentence

She watched the sun set behind the mountains.

a cabin in the mountains

They both like mountain climbing.

We've received a mountain of mail.

Recent Examples on the Web

The fire has scorched around 20 acres of land on the mountain, but no structures were lost, the department said. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 1 July 2025

Imagine standing atop a mountain, gazing at the vast landscape below, trying to make sense of the world around you. —Ben Verghese, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

According to the zoo, the wild rodent had hitched a ride near Minturn, Colo. — a small town in the mountains outside of Aspen that is about 100 miles from Denver. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 1 July 2025

Authorities believe that the shooter intentionally set the fire to lure the crew to a nature park on the mountain known for its hiking and biking trails. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English montaine, monteine, mounteyne, borrowed from Anglo-French muntaine, monteigne, mountaigne "elevated region, mountain range, mountain" (also continental Old French, Middle French montagne), going back to Vulgar Latin *montānea, from Latin mont-, mons "mountain, hill" + Vulgar Latin *-ānea, collective suffix, from neuter plural of Latin -āneus (from -ānus -an entry 2 + -eus -eous) — more at mount entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mountain

• acute mountain sickness
• American mountain ash
• Bernese mountain dog
• cat-a-mountain
• European mountain ash
• make a mountain out of a molehill
• mountain ash
• mountain bicycle
• mountain bike
• mountain biking
• mountain bluebird
• mountain chain
• mountain coati
• mountain cranberry
• mountain dew
• mountain goat
• mountain gorilla
• mountain laurel
• mountain lion
• mountain mahogany
• mountain man
• mountain sheep
• mountain sickness
• mountain time
• snow-on-the-mountain
• Welsh mountain pony

Rhymes for mountain

• fountain
• intermountain

Kids Definition

mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn 

1

: an elevation higher than a hill

2

: a great mass or huge number

a mountain of mail