dune

noun

ˈdün How to pronounce dune (audio)
 also  ˈdyün
: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind
dunelike
ˈdün-ˌlīk How to pronounce dune (audio)
 also  ˈdyün-
adjective

Examples of dune in a Sentence

We wandered over the dunes.
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.
Hillside is the most dramatic style of links golf, especially on its back, with rolling fairways flanked by towering dunes and raw coastal exposure. Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 Relax at Lake Michigan beaches The town's spot near Lake Michigan gives visitors prime access to sandy beaches and dunes along 12 miles of the lakefront coast. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 July 2025 While the project will be built on property owned by SpaceX, the county holds the authority to manage the construction that affects Boca Chica's dunes. ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025 Nathan had fallen 12 feet deep into one such void, created by a tree trunk that had decomposed inside the dune. Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dune

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English dūn down — more at down

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dune was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dune. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

dune

noun
: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind

More from Merriam-Webster on dune

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