valley

noun

val·​ley ˈva-lē 

plural valleys

1

a

: an elongate depression of the earth's surface usually between ranges of hills or mountains

b

: an area drained by a river and its tributaries

2

: a low point or condition

3

a

: hollow, depression

b

: the place of meeting of two slopes of a roof that form on the plan a reentrant angle

Synonyms

• dale
• dene [British]
• hollow
• vale

Examples of valley in a Sentence

the valley will be the first to flood if the river rises

Recent Examples on the Web

Cades Cove Feel enveloped in mountain majesty by visiting this scenic valley in Townsend, Tennessee that’s fully surrounded by the mountain range. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 18 May 2025

When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2025

The elaborate tombs can be found overlooking towns, valleys and shorelines and often the scramble to reach them is part of the adventure. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 17 May 2025

Those bodies of liquid carve out shorelines, valleys, mountain ridges, icy boulders, mesas and dunes. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English valeye, borrowed from Anglo-French valee (early Old French valede), from val "valley" + -ee, noun suffix (here with augmentative force), going back to Latin -āta, feminine of -ātus -ate entry 1 — more at vale

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing valley

• inter-valley
• lily of the valley
• rift valley
• San Joaquin valley fever
• valley fever

Rhymes for valley

• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galley
• galli
• lally
• mallee
• mally
• rally

Kids Definition

valley

noun

val·​ley ˈval-ē 

plural valleys

: an area of lowland between ranges of hills or mountains