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

In some places in the valley, visibility will be below a quarter mile. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

In Utah, residents protested after Box Elder County commissioners signed off on a data center expected to consume more than double the state’s peak electricity demand in 2025, and spread hot air in the desert valley surrounding the data center. — Emma Roth, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2026

Kavros DeGraw is both a symptom of and contributor to the GOP’s slide in the valley. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

One element that makes California’s mountains, meadows, foothills and valleys so special are their native plants, which have long provided habitat for native species. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 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