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

• 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

The restaurant overlooks the Little Sugar Creek valley and offers a multicourse tasting menu by reservation only. Conifer, Cooper's first restaurant, is known for a completely gluten-free menu, which changes seasonally. —Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 23 June 2025

On Pressing Onward, Freedia is creating her own religious experience of sorts — one that marries the powerful peaks and sonorous valleys of gospel with the irrepressible, relentless energy of bounce. —Joe Lynch, Billboard, 23 June 2025

There's something about the mountains, vegetation, and the size of the valleys, plus the coast and islands. —Thor Pedersen, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2025

The Keep offers five holes that play along the cliffs edge, where errant shots will make their way to the valley below. —Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 20 June 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