often attributive
1
: land in or predominantly in grass
2
: a tract of grassland: such as
a
: a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
b
: one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil
Synonyms of prairie
Examples of prairie in a Sentence
Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies.
The train tracks extend over miles of prairie.
Recent Examples on the Web
The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library designed by Snøhetta melds with the surrounding North Dakota landscape—its roof feathered with native prairie grasses that twist and bend in the wind.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
The 119-acre lakefront park, which is actually a peninsula, not an island, features more than 150 varieties of native plants, 20,000 trees and shrubs, a 5-acre pond, strolling paths, and wild prairie grasses and savanna.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 June 2026
The Park Ridge Committee of the Whole agreed verbally to change a city weed ordinance to allow for native, or prairie, yards.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
State biologists also consider prescribed burns, 88,000 of which take place each year, as essential for restoring prairies, forests and marshes with new growth.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prairie
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Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
The 119-acre lakefront park, which is actually a peninsula, not an island, features more than 150 varieties of native plants, 20,000 trees and shrubs, a 5-acre pond, strolling paths, and wild prairie grasses and savanna.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 June 2026
The Park Ridge Committee of the Whole agreed verbally to change a city weed ordinance to allow for native, or prairie, yards.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
State biologists also consider prescribed burns, 88,000 of which take place each year, as essential for restoring prairies, forests and marshes with new growth.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prairie
Cite this Entry
“Prairie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prairie
noun
prai·rie
ˈpre(ə)r-ē 
: a large area of level or rolling grassland
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