mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇n-tᵊn 

often attributive

1

a

: a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill

The sun set behind the mountains.

b

: an elongated ridge

2

a

: a great mass

… a mountain of a man …

—David Butwin

b

: a vast number or quantity

a mountain of mail

a mountain of debt

Synonyms of mountain

• peak
• alp
• mount

Examples of mountain in a Sentence

She watched the sun set behind the mountains.

a cabin in the mountains

They both like mountain climbing.

We've received a mountain of mail.

Recent Examples on the Web

Much higher wind speeds were recorded across the Magic Valley and through the state’s central mountains. —Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Dec. 2025

There’s a lot of concrete poured for multiple dams and tunnels cutting through seismically active mountains. —Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025

Wednesday will feature snow in the mountains and drier conditions at lower elevations, the National Weather Service said. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2025

With an elevation of 11,239 feet and located 45 miles east-southeast of Portland, Mount Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English montaine, monteine, mounteyne, borrowed from Anglo-French muntaine, monteigne, mountaigne "elevated region, mountain range, mountain" (also continental Old French, Middle French montagne), going back to Vulgar Latin *montānea, from Latin mont-, mons "mountain, hill" + Vulgar Latin *-ānea, collective suffix, from neuter plural of Latin -āneus (from -ānus -an entry 2 + -eus -eous) — more at mount entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mountain

• acute mountain sickness
• American mountain ash
• Bernese mountain dog
• cat-a-mountain
• European mountain ash
• make a mountain out of a molehill
• mountain ash
• mountain bicycle
• mountain bike
• mountain biking
• mountain bluebird
• mountain chain
• mountain coati
• mountain cranberry
• mountain dew
• mountain goat
• mountain gorilla
• mountain laurel
• mountain lion
• mountain mahogany
• mountain man
• mountain sheep
• mountain sickness
• mountain time
• snow-on-the-mountain
• Welsh mountain pony

Rhymes for mountain

• fountain
• intermountain

Kids Definition

mountain

noun

moun·​tain ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn 

1

: an elevation higher than a hill

2

: a great mass or huge number

a mountain of mail