low-lying

adjective

low-ly·​ing ˈlō-ˈlī-iŋ 

1

: rising relatively little above the base of measurement

low-lying hills

2

: lying below the normal level, surface, or the base of measurement or mean elevation

low-lying clouds

Synonyms of low-lying

• short
• little
• small
• low
• tiny

Examples of low-lying in a Sentence

the low-lying hills blocked our view of the sea only a little bit

Recent Examples on the Web

Township crews have been producing roughly 3,500 sandbags an hour to keep up with hundreds of calls from homeowners in low-lying areas along the river. —Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

During heavy rain, flooding is possible, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026

What led up to this alert Cheboygan is one of several areas of concern in Michigan, where snowmelt from winter storms aggravated by additional rain overtook riverbanks and low-lying areas. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

Residents in low-lying areas of neighboring Waupaca County have also been advised to evacuate due to the rising floodwaters. —Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for low-lying

• buying
• crying
• drying
• dyeing
• dying
• flying
• frying
• lying
• plying
• prying
• shying
• sighing

Kids Definition

low-lying

adjective

low-ly·​ing

ˈlō-ˈlī-iŋ

: having little upward extension or elevation

low-lying clouds