1
a(1)
: a geographic area
(2)
: a piece of land : ground
b
: the physical features of a tract of land
2
3
a
: a field of knowledge or interest
b
Examples of terrain in a Sentence
We had to drive over some rough terrain.
We hiked through a variety of terrains.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the northeast of the fire, by Sugar Pine Mountain, crews worked in steep, inaccessible terrain to bring containment lines into the natural rock bluff, trying to cut the fire off south of the Wishon Reservoir for the protection of the critical hydroelectric infrastructure.
—
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Two powerful aftershocks struck eastern Afghanistan 12 hours apart, triggering fears of more deaths and destruction on Friday in a region where earthquakes have killed about 2,200 people as rescuers battled mountainous terrain and harsh weather.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
For engineers and designers, this framework is like giving a GPS map through the complex terrain of foam design—saving months of trial-and-error testing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
The epic made breathtaking use of the country’s terrain, including the red cliffs of Wadi Rum and the rock formations of Jebel Tubeiq.
—Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrain
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Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Two powerful aftershocks struck eastern Afghanistan 12 hours apart, triggering fears of more deaths and destruction on Friday in a region where earthquakes have killed about 2,200 people as rescuers battled mountainous terrain and harsh weather.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
For engineers and designers, this framework is like giving a GPS map through the complex terrain of foam design—saving months of trial-and-error testing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
The epic made breathtaking use of the country’s terrain, including the red cliffs of Wadi Rum and the rock formations of Jebel Tubeiq.
—Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrain
Cite this Entry
“Terrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrain. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
terrain
noun
ter·rain
tə-ˈrān 
also te-
: the surface features of an area of land
rough terrain
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