1
as in prairies
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country
the first settlers in that area lived on the vast plains in lonely log cabins
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in expanses
a wide space or area
the vast plains of snow-covered earth that seemed to stretch endlessly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plains
The study added a lot to archaeologists’ knowledge of ancient roads in North Africa, France’s interior plains and the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece — regions that had been under-documented in prior maps.
—
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Southern magnolia is native to moist woodlands and bottomlands along the coastal plains where the seeds are eaten by birds and other wildlife.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
They could be spread across the Central Valley, coastal plains and the desert—areas with ample space and potential.
—Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
From the Appalachian Mountains to wide Texas plains, these top Dark Sky sanctuaries offer some of the clearest views in the country, according to research shared with Travel + Leisure from Inghams Walking, a travel company specializing in outdoor adventures.
—Dana Sauchelli, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2025
Models show that between about 15,000 and 19,000 years ago, during a period of warming that ended the last Ice Age, glaciers with ice plains retreated hundreds of meters a day.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Osawatomie to Herington Kansas may be famed for its wide-open plains, but the Flint Hills Trail reveals a wilder, more varied side of the state.
—Erin Gifford, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
For its plains and contrasts palette, the mélange and colors were inspired by women’s fashion.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
From the dramatic depths of Tycho and Copernicus craters to the smooth plains of Mare Tranquillitatis, each lunar landmark holds clues about the moon's violent past and geological evolution.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Southern magnolia is native to moist woodlands and bottomlands along the coastal plains where the seeds are eaten by birds and other wildlife.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
They could be spread across the Central Valley, coastal plains and the desert—areas with ample space and potential.
—Zoltan Istvan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
From the Appalachian Mountains to wide Texas plains, these top Dark Sky sanctuaries offer some of the clearest views in the country, according to research shared with Travel + Leisure from Inghams Walking, a travel company specializing in outdoor adventures.
—Dana Sauchelli, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2025
Models show that between about 15,000 and 19,000 years ago, during a period of warming that ended the last Ice Age, glaciers with ice plains retreated hundreds of meters a day.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Osawatomie to Herington Kansas may be famed for its wide-open plains, but the Flint Hills Trail reveals a wilder, more varied side of the state.
—Erin Gifford, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
For its plains and contrasts palette, the mélange and colors were inspired by women’s fashion.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
From the dramatic depths of Tycho and Copernicus craters to the smooth plains of Mare Tranquillitatis, each lunar landmark holds clues about the moon's violent past and geological evolution.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plains
Noun
-
Hailing from the prairies of North America, this salvia is an end-of-the-season stunner that produces tall spikes of sky-blue flowers in late summer.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
-
In early spring of 2025, the prairies were once again dry, but timely rainfall in mid May recharged wetlands in portions of North Dakota, southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Never mind its name, extreme temperatures, and vast expanses of desert—there are also stones that move on their own.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
-
WindBorne Systems But hurricane hunters can fly only so many missions, and most storms develop in places that aircraft can’t safely reach, such as over vast ocean expanses.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In Mongolia’s eastern steppes, an initiative implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is helping farmers revive more than 11,000 hectares of cropland through no-till farming and intercropping—restoring productivity while protecting ecosystems.—
Kaveh Zahedi,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The mighty Sino-Spanish Empire balloons to rule much of Asia, and then expands westward, across the Central Asian steppes.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This is a continuation of the company’s retail expansions — before launching its direct-to-consumer website earlier this year, the platform built up partnerships with Jared, Selfridges, and Dubai’s Duty Free, scaling to more than 100 wholesale doors.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Airwallex also offers its global network of licenses and services to other fintech companies through API integrations, such as facilitating Brex, Rippling, and Deel’s international expansions.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
According to the zoo, patas monkeys are charismatic and can travel up to 34 miles per hour across their natural habitat, the arid grasslands of Africa.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
As the evening concluded, C·one announced plans to create a new AI film about his hometown region grasslands, while exploring how to better integrate AI with traditional storytelling techniques.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the savannas of Brazil, the hand of industrialization is mighty.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
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Located right outside of town in neighboring Moss Point, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offers 18,000 acres of pine savannas, salt marshes, bays, bayous, and salt pannes to explore.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plains. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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