forest

noun, often attributive for·est \ ˈfȯr-əst , ˈfär- \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of forest

1 : a dense growth of trees and underbrush covering a large tract

A fire destroyed acres of forest.

forests of pine and mahogany

2 : a tract of wooded land in England formerly owned by the sovereign and used for game

3 : something resembling a forest especially in profusion or lushness

a forest of microphones

a kelp forest

a forest of skyscrapers

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forestal

play \ˈfȯr-ə-stᵊl, ˈfär-\ or forestial play \fə-ˈre-stē-əl, fȯ-, -ˈres-chəl, -ˈresh-\ adjective

—

forested

play \ˈfȯr-ə-stəd, ˈfär-\ adjective

See forest defined for English-language learners

See forest defined for kids

Examples of forest in a Sentence

Fires destroyed acres of forest.
the endless forest that the first European settlers encountered

Recent Examples of forest from the Web

Other studies have demonstrated that exposure to natural sensory experiences, like the sounds of running water or the smells of the forest, have marked effects on stress and physiological factors, like heart rate and blood pressure.

— NBC News, "Why natural scenery improves your mood and makes you more productive," 2 Apr. 2018
With otter populations rebounding, kelp forests are too, providing a nursery for young fish and a brake on the erosive power of the surf at the near shore.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "From Seattle to Vancouver: See how Rialto the otter, once near death, is thriving," 24 Mar. 2018
The other would exempt the state of Alaska — and the Tongass — from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule that stands in the way of timber harvesting in much of the forest.

— erica martinson, Anchorage Daily News, "The big federal spending bill: what’s in it for Alaska (and what isn’t)," 23 Mar. 2018
From waves in a stormy sea, to the cool undergrowth of a forest, to the transition from day to night, the music in this ethereal program will be as colorful and varied as nature itself.

— the enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra unveils eclectic Summermusik series for August 2018," 23 Mar. 2018
Guests there can explore 300 acres of forest or relax in the spa.

— nicole defeudis, BostonGlobe.com, "New England hotels bring home the gold," 18 Mar. 2018
The forest is home to 10 percent of the world’s wildlife, much of which is at risk for extinction.

— tracy lee, Newsweek, "Amazon Forest Could Lose Half Its Species and Be Irreparably Devastated, Study Shows," 14 Mar. 2018
Storms frequently come through and wipe out sections of forest.

— emilie c. harting, Philly.com, "In Washington's San Juan Islands, an expedition cruise and wondrous hiking," 8 Mar. 2018
Southern Ohio Forest Rally This stretch of forest was once the battleground for a famed rivalry in the ’70s and ’80s but then went out of use for 21 years.

— brett berk, Car and Driver, "Our Entirely Subjective Guide to the Most Important Good-Weather Automotive Events of the Year," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of forest

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin forestis (silva) unenclosed (woodland), from Latin foris outside — more at forum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

forest Synonyms

Synonyms

forestland, timber, timberland, wood(s), woodland;

greenwood, wildwood;

woodlot;

arboretum, plantation;

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

forest

verb

Definition of forest

transitive verb

: to cover with trees or forest

land densely forested with firs

—

forestation

play \ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən, ˌfär-\ noun

Recent Examples of forest from the Web

The same could be said of the careful management that goes into keeping Michigan’s state forests healthy and abundant.

— michigan department of natural resources, Detroit Free Press, "A taste of the Michigan forest," 4 Jan. 2018
The building’s roof was forested with aerials and satellite dishes.

— sam roberts, New York Times, "Mickey Gurdus, Who Eavesdropped on the World, Dies at 73," 8 Dec. 2017
This fall, steal a moment to forest bathe or lose yourself in a wide open space far from the madding crowd.

— mary carol garrity, kansascity, "Fall’s colors paint a beautiful backdrop for an elegant picnic," 1 Oct. 2017
The total surface area of the site is 63,325 ha, 70 percent of which is forested.

— National Geographic, "UN Announces 23 New Nature Reserves While U.S. Removes 17," 14 June 2017
THE AREA OF south-central Vermont around Stratton Mountain is a rural landscape of white-clapboard farm houses and rolling hills forested with tall pines and silvery birches.

— valerie stivers, WSJ, "A Discreetly Fashionable Getaway in New England," 29 June 2017
Portugal, like most southern European countries, is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.

— armando franca, The Denver Post, "Raging forest fire kills 61 in Portugal; many as they fled," 18 June 2017
And that’s a problem, says Helmer, because ungrazed land will rapidly grow forested, crowding out wildflowers and butterflies.

— jonathon keats, Discover Magazine, "Return of the Aurochs," 6 Feb. 2017
Wong and his colleague Gordon Yong, an entomologist at the National University of Singapore, stumbled on the ants’ hideaway in March 2016, while surveying Singapore’s forested Mandai area.

— michael greshko, National Geographic, "Extremely Rare ‘T. Rex’ Ant Found Alive for First Time," 16 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of forest

see ¹forest

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1828

See Words from the same year

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

FOREST Defined for English Language Learners

forest

noun

Definition of forest for English Language Learners

: a thick growth of trees and bushes that covers a large area

FOREST Defined for Kids

forest

noun for·est \ ˈfȯr-əst \

Definition of forest for Students

: a growth of trees and underbrush covering a large area

—

forested

\-əs-təd\ adjective

Learn More about forest

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for forest Spanish Central: Translation of forest Nglish: Translation of forest for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of forest for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about forest

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forest

Definition of forest

forestal

forested

Examples of forest in a Sentence

Recent Examples of forest from the Web

Origin and Etymology of forest

forest Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Ecology Terms

forest

Definition of forest

forestation

Recent Examples of forest from the Web

Origin and Etymology of forest

Other Ecology Terms

Phrases Related to FOREST

Related Phrases

FOREST Defined for English Language Learners

forest

Definition of forest for English Language Learners

FOREST Defined for Kids

forest

Definition of forest for Students

forested

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