terrain

noun

tə-ˈrān How to pronounce terrain (audio)
Definition of terrainnext
1
as in area
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence we're moving into unfamiliar terrain if we bring pre-Columbian art into our discussion

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2
as in geography
the physical features of a region as a whole an analysis of the terrain revealed that an invasion force of paratroopers would have their work cut out for them

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3
as in environment
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded a new senator getting lost in the foggy terrain of double-dealing and deception

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of terrain In May and early June, snow still blankets much of the terrain around White Pass, while spring runoff sends water rushing over the route’s many waterfalls. — Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026 Still, things were not the same; there had been a definite blocking off, a shift of terrain that put Nidhi on one side, her parents on the other. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 This year introduces an exclusive Wave Maker color and ISO Dynamic front seats, designed to absorb shocks for a smoother ride on diverse terrains. — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrain
  1. area
  2. geography
  3. environment
  4. realm
  5. topography
  6. atmosphere
  7. element
  8. landscape
Noun
  • Morris has held other leadership roles in education before stepping into her current position, first leading the school’s Dallas-area campus in Irving, Texas, then returning to the Atlanta area last year to lead the campus in Decatur.
    — Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Others warn the strategy risks civilian casualties, particularly in Colombia, where armed groups operate among civilian populations and often function as de facto authorities in areas beyond the state’s reach.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of area
Noun
  • The mountain's unusual biodiversity is partly thanks to geography.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Somaliland has the geography, the stability and the will to work closely with Washington — and will continue to do so.
    — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of geography
Noun
  • Its separate entrance, elevators, and staff have always set it apart from the surrounding casino ecosystem, offering a smoke-free, gaming-free environment with all the brand’s usual service signatures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The brain coordinates muscles and nerves while also processing information about balance, vision and the environment around us.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of environment
Noun
  • All of them are concerned with legacy, particularly among fathers and daughters (Shakespeare had two and lost his only son), and all of them touch a realm beyond the mundane — a place of gods and dreams, oracles and enchantment.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The fantastical realm is filled with the same zombie-like enemies from the first demo.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of realm
Noun
  • Hawaii’s intense topography can induce heavy localized flooding events as air is forced up the mountain slopes.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These included lattices, curved structures, and surfaces capable of changing their topography.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of topography
Noun
  • As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the lunar surface, blue light is scattered away while red wavelengths continue onward, bathing the moon in pinkish, copper and crimson tones.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Consequently, the plant could potentially become net-negative—removing more CO₂ from the atmosphere than the entire system emits during its life cycle.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of atmosphere
Noun
  • Trump frequently changes course on a dime and as all the elements for the Ulchi Freedom drills are in place, scaling them back may not amount to much on the ground.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Garfield, whose credits include playing Spider-Man, says he is drawn to roles with an element of play, community and the natural world.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of element
Noun
  • The restaurant is named for American artist John Singer Sargent, a painter who specialized in portraits and landscapes during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In the middle of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, the islands are a magical landscape where locals and pilgrims connect with ancient spirits at a sacred waterfall.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of landscape

Browse Nearby Words

terra firma
terrain
terrains
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrain. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on terrain

Nglish: Translation of terrain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about terrain

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