valley

noun

val·​ley ˈva-lē 

plural valleys

1

a

: an elongated depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains

b

: an area drained by a river and its tributaries

2

: a low point or condition

3

a

: hollow, depression

b

: the place of meeting of two slopes of a roof that form on the plan a reentrant angle

Synonyms of valley

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge
• glen
• hollow
• vale
• dale

Examples of valley in a Sentence

the valley will be the first to flood if the river rises

Recent Examples on the Web

The environs of Mount Katmai had been home to a lush river valley. —Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026

At an elevation of 4,500 feet and higher, the area is cool enough to sustain a grassland too temperamental to survive in the lower lying desert valleys. —Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Canning, who lives at the bottom of a valley, has a one horsepower sump pump, a high capacity machine, to help prevent his basement from flooding. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

Another one of my favorites is in the Bavarian valley town of Schwangau, where the Royal Crystal Baths (Königliche Kristall-Therme) offer just what a body needs after a day battling crowds at Neuschwanstein Castle. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English valeye, borrowed from Anglo-French valee (early Old French valede), from val "valley" + -ee, noun suffix (here with augmentative force), going back to Latin -āta, feminine of -ātus -ate entry 1 — more at vale

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing valley

• inter-valley
• lily of the valley
• rift valley
• San Joaquin valley fever
• uncanny valley
• valley fever

Rhymes for valley

• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galley
• galli
• lally
• mallee
• mally
• rally

Kids Definition

valley

noun

val·​ley ˈval-ē 

plural valleys

: an area of lowland between ranges of hills or mountains