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
These parts of the outback are known for cracking clay plains, ephemeral waterways, scorching summers and dramatic cycling between drought and flood.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There, buffalo roamed free within the ancient ruins of Magna Graecia in the low, alluvial plains just outside of Naples.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Prior to European expansion and colonization in the West, two different wolf ecotypes — one at home on the plains and one more suited to mountainous terrain — may have met in Wyoming.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026
With the greatest risk from Denver International Airport and Aurora spreading out over the Colorado plains to Burlington.
—Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Ranging from seemingly endless desert plains to rugged mountain ranges, the region is filled with scenic drives, plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure, and best of all, wide-open spaces that let the imagination roam free.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
The largest risk looms on the northeastern plains, forecasters said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
They are found in every ecosystem, from desert to forest, from mountainous elevations to the plains.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
This 70-million-year-old predator didn’t stalk herds on the plains.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There, buffalo roamed free within the ancient ruins of Magna Graecia in the low, alluvial plains just outside of Naples.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Prior to European expansion and colonization in the West, two different wolf ecotypes — one at home on the plains and one more suited to mountainous terrain — may have met in Wyoming.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026
With the greatest risk from Denver International Airport and Aurora spreading out over the Colorado plains to Burlington.
—Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 8 June 2026
Ranging from seemingly endless desert plains to rugged mountain ranges, the region is filled with scenic drives, plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure, and best of all, wide-open spaces that let the imagination roam free.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
The largest risk looms on the northeastern plains, forecasters said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
They are found in every ecosystem, from desert to forest, from mountainous elevations to the plains.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
This 70-million-year-old predator didn’t stalk herds on the plains.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plains
Noun
-
Here, visitors will find miles of wetlands as well as expansive prairies covered with wildflowers.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
The Okefenokee swamp's prairies are vast, watery expanses dotted with floating islands and stands of cypress and other trees.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The architects varied the floor planes and ceiling heights inside to help define spaces in lieu of walls, maintaining views of the panorama through expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass shaded by broad hemlock eaves.—
Fred Albert,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Those hilly expanses hold a lot of amenities, including a ski hill and golf courses.—
Katy Spratte Joyce,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Similar trends have played out in Central Asian steppes and South American plains.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
Longer-running hiking trips take you everywhere from Western Greenland to the sea cliffs of the Faroe Islands, the steppes of Mongolia, or the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Of the big three, Modern is the only to have refused corporate buyouts and franchise expansions, preserving a classic mom-and-pop feel.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Triton Center is part of one of the largest university expansions to occur nationally in the past decade or so.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
According to the team’s modeling, grasslands contain about 40 percent of Earth’s AM infrastructures, with particularly high concentrations predicted in the Florida Everglades, the Tibetan plateau in Asia, and South Sudan in Africa.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
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Yet the grasslands and many other pastoral areas turned into solar farms are not sandy deserts.—
Sanggay Tashi,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Landlocked, it's surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil and known for vast savannas, lush landscapes and the indigenous Guarani culture.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
-
Earth’s biosphere includes microbes, forests, savannas, animals, and more.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plains. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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