mountainous

adjective

moun·​tain·​ous ˈmau̇n-tə-nəs How to pronounce mountainous (audio)
ˈmau̇nt-nəs
1
: containing many mountains
2
: resembling a mountain : huge
mountainously adverb
mountainousness noun

Examples of mountainous in a Sentence

the seemingly mountainous obstacles he had to overcome while growing up
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.
In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife. Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 That much rain over mountainous terrain in the area could trigger catastrophic flash flooding and landslides. Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025 Even a weak storm could dump a ton of rain on the mountainous island of Hispaniola, potentially setting off life-threatening mudslides and flash flooding. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025 This story of a logger (Joel Edgerton) working in the mountainous West as early-20th-century progress rolls over him like a wonder and a curse is the one movie in the streamer’s roster of Oscars hopefuls that people seem actually to love. Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mountainous

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mounteynous, borrowed from Anglo-French muntaignus, from muntaigne, mountaigne mountain + -us -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mountainous was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mountainous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountainous. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mountainous

adjective
moun·​tain·​ous ˈmau̇nt-ᵊn-əs How to pronounce mountainous (audio)
-nəs
1
: having many mountains
2
: resembling a mountain : huge

More from Merriam-Webster on mountainous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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