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 …

—David Butwin

b

: a vast number or quantity

a mountain of mail

a mountain of debt

see also:

make a mountain out of a molehill

Synonyms of mountain

• 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

Aleksandra Karapetrova, an alpine enthusiast and environmental scientist at the University of California, Riverside, used her unique skill set to find that microplastics are present in remote Sierra Nevada mountain snow reachable only on skis. — Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026

As the Cowboys try to figure out how to maintain some sort of stability this season with their 4-5 record, there are a mountain of issues to correct, but there are also things to build with and be proud of. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2026

Gradually, Ritts extended the property, last year acquiring 150 acres of forest land on the far side of the mountain. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2026

For their documentary Perfect Road, Danish directors and cousins Adam and Christian Bonke followed nomadic cyclist Maximilian Schnell on an extreme journey across some of Europe’s highest mountain passes. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2026

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