mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇n-tᵊn How to pronounce mountain (audio)
often attributive
Synonyms of mountainnext
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

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
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.
But extreme warmth across the West this winter has meant more precipitation falling as rain, not snow — a symptom of global warming, which in recent years has been pushing average snow lines higher in the mountains and changing the timing of runoff. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026 The region's rugged terrain, marked by mountains and steep canyons, has long been a deterrent to migration. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 Feb. 2026 Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert. Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026 How thin will my base layer need to be to avoid a blowout on the mountain? Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mountain

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mountain was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mountain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountain. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

mountain

noun
moun·​tain ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn How to pronounce mountain (audio)
1
: an elevation higher than a hill
2
: a great mass or huge number
a mountain of mail

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