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

Its rugged topography, carved by rivers and forests with elevations that vary from low valleys to high peaks, makes for a challenging environment for search and rescue operations. —Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025

Just across the valley from Lake Louise Ski Resort, inside the renowned Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, is Walliser Stube, a European eatery. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025

And sometimes Schmid split the difference, smoothing verbs that varied wildly from valley to valley. —Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Other nearby mountains could see up to 4 inches of snow, with 1 to 2 inches across the interior valleys, forecasters said in the outlook. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 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