plains

noun

Definition of plainsnext
plural of plain
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plains The good news is for areas near Denver and the northeastern plains. — Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 That’s what pulled me to the plains of north-central Spain last week. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026 Harry and Meghan’s children even chose the color of their elephants’ collars, which will help the organization track them across the plains of northern Botswana. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Elk Island National Park, 30 minutes east of the city, is another important location for the repopulation of plains bison in the Prairies. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026 Through parts of the rainy season, Kio couldn’t be followed by the crew as the plains in the Maasai Mara became impassable. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 Explore the landscape of rolling plains, steep canyons, and family dynasties with a stake in the land that runs deep. — Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026 The lander, which touched down in the arctic plains of Mars known as Vastitas Borealis in May 2008, was designed to seek water ice below the surface and hunt organic molecules. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Footage shared on social media showed the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be a small plane on arid plains. — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plains
  1. prairies
  2. expanses
  3. steppes
  4. expansions
  5. grasslands
  6. savannas
Noun
  • The route passes through diverse landscapes, including forests, prairies, lakes, and the Rocky Mountains, with stops in cities like Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Jasper.
    — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Covering 3,652 acres along the Wabash River, the Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area stretches across prairies, bottomland forests, and wetlands restored from farmland in 2010.
    — Brian Garrido, Midwest Living, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of prairies
Noun
  • Security Meets Style Expect larger expanses of glass, slimmer frames, and design that blurs the line between indoors and out.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Then in the late winter, Mathon proposed rezoning all of its 188-acre Waterford Parkway South property, including the former airport’s runways and tie-down areas as well as large expanses of woodlands.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of expanses
Noun
  • The unification of the Eurasian steppes under Genghis Khan and his successors—Ögödei, Möngke, and Kublai Khan—brought many of these trade routes under a single political authority for the first time.
    — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Similar trends have played out in Central Asian steppes and South American plains.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Definition of steppes
Noun
  • Twelve location expansions followed, awarded on reputation without a competitive bid.
    — William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, debt as a share of the economy tended to rise during recessions and then stabilize during economic expansions.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of expansions
Noun
  • Ranchers reduced their herds during the pandemic as livestock prices plummeted, maintenance costs soared and drought dried up grasslands.
    — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than building on barren deserts, developers often claimed rich grasslands and farms, replacing vital bird habitats with concrete and glass.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of grasslands
Noun
  • The new property is nestled inside a 45,000-acre private conservancy with open savannahs and waterholes nearby.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 July 2026
  • This includes savannahs and shrublands.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 June 2026
Definition of savannas

Browse Nearby Words

plainness
plains
plainspoken
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Cite this Entry

“Plains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plains. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of plains for Spanish Speakers

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