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 macaws are severely range-restricted in the wild to a tiny tropical savannah in north-central Bolivia, known as Llanos de Moxos (the Moxos plains).
—
Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Between August and October—the hot, dry months—the plains turn a golden hue, and wildlife becomes easier to spot as animals concentrate around the last remaining water sources.
—Mazuba Kapambwe, AFAR Media, 10 Sep. 2025
Police said similar protests were also organised in Biratnagar and Bharatpur in the southern plains and in Pokhara in western Nepal.
—Gopal Sharma, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
The new, fully customizable itinerary showcases equally powerful landscapes, ranging from the sweeping dunes of Sossusvlei to the vast deserts of Damaraland to the rugged mountains and sprawling plains of Kaokoland.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
At this time, the entirety of the right side of the lunar disk will be directly illuminated by sunlight, presenting the ancient basaltic plains of Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquilitatis to exploration, while its left side will remain veiled in impenetrable darkness.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Officials should more effectively use the latest water-mapping tools to smartly stage water barricades, update evacuation routes, and rewrite playbooks for basements, transit and hospitals in flood plains.
—Matt Reardon, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Suddenly, around 32 miles southwest of Marfa, the pavement ends, the ground drops away precipitously, and the gentle plains give way to craggy rocks and steep, dramatic mountains.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
As this activity spreads eastward across the I-25 Corridor and plains, showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Between August and October—the hot, dry months—the plains turn a golden hue, and wildlife becomes easier to spot as animals concentrate around the last remaining water sources.
—Mazuba Kapambwe, AFAR Media, 10 Sep. 2025
Police said similar protests were also organised in Biratnagar and Bharatpur in the southern plains and in Pokhara in western Nepal.
—Gopal Sharma, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
The new, fully customizable itinerary showcases equally powerful landscapes, ranging from the sweeping dunes of Sossusvlei to the vast deserts of Damaraland to the rugged mountains and sprawling plains of Kaokoland.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
At this time, the entirety of the right side of the lunar disk will be directly illuminated by sunlight, presenting the ancient basaltic plains of Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquilitatis to exploration, while its left side will remain veiled in impenetrable darkness.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Officials should more effectively use the latest water-mapping tools to smartly stage water barricades, update evacuation routes, and rewrite playbooks for basements, transit and hospitals in flood plains.
—Matt Reardon, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Suddenly, around 32 miles southwest of Marfa, the pavement ends, the ground drops away precipitously, and the gentle plains give way to craggy rocks and steep, dramatic mountains.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
As this activity spreads eastward across the I-25 Corridor and plains, showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plains
Noun
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Still, the Cornhusker State quietly offers stunning wildflower experiences throughout the seasons—and fall is one of the best times to see its prairies' most stunning displays.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The exhibit will feature fossils from the museum’s collection that show how ancient sea creatures once thrived where today’s prairies and towns stand, the release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The team calculates that, based on its distance from the star, TRAPPIST-1e might also be a relatively cool world, conceivably with liquid-water oceans or frozen expanses of ice on its surface.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
8 Sep. 2025
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Backcountry exploration When people seek a break from the pace of modern life and the demands of being digitally connected, national parks contain expanses of backcountry, where signs of civilization are sparse, and where profound natural beauty, adventure and solitude are still available.—
Jeffrey C. Hallo,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mongolia’s vast steppes and nomadic heritage have long shaped the rhythms of life.—
Munkhtuya Rentsenbat,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Those expansions were made possible with Inflation Reduction Act funding.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The funding has helped several grant recipients make plans for expansions and upgrades that have been delayed.—
Ricardo Torres,
jsonline.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, or Roadless Rule, prohibits the new construction of roads and timber harvesting on nearly 45 million acres of national forests and grasslands.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Their preferred habitats likely included open grasslands, forest edges and floodplains.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some invasive ornamental grasses include pampas grass, Mexican feather grass, and fountaingrass.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images An insurgency was launched by Boko Haram in 2009 to establish a caliphate in Nigeria and the broader Sahel (the semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara and savannas), with several other terrorist groups also active in the region.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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The train winds through the Great Karoo Desert, a sparsely populated area of vast open plains, savannas, and grassland.—
Alesandra Dubin,
AFAR Media,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plains. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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