valley

noun

val·​ley ˈva-lē 

plural valleys

1

a

: an elongated 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 of valley

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge
• glen
• hollow
• vale
• dale

Examples of valley in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Even up here, in this glacial valley, Nima is a celebrity. —Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

To address that gap, González-Rocha partnered with Adrian Ayala, a local community advocate and former board president of the North Monterey Unified School District, to reach families in the valley and offer sensor installation. —Alonso Daboub, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025

Working with local producers and sourcing produce and legumes from their own farm in the Norcia valley, chef Fabio Cappiello’s choice of tasting menus provides a veritable tour of this bountiful region. —Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025

Beyond cost, Purple Line development will face a high degree of difficulty because of the topography of mesas and valleys. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 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