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

• dale
• dene [British]
• hollow
• vale

Examples of valley in a Sentence

the valley will be the first to flood if the river rises

Recent Examples on the Web

In the last decade, fleets of water trucks came to fill the gap, delivering emergency water shipments from nearby valleys. —Sammy Feldblum, The Dial, 30 Jan. 2025

Studies show that the state’s agricultural valley is consuming twice as much groundwater as nature is returning through rain and snow. —Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025

For the coasts and valleys, northeast to east winds increasing to 25 to 40 mph with damaging gusts of 50 to 70 mph are possible. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025

Wind chill temperatures will hit minus 25 over the Eastern Plains and up to minus 50 in the mountains and mountain valleys. Denver, alongside most of the Front Range, is under a Cold Weather Advisory until 9 a.m. Tuesday. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 19 Jan. 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

Kids Definition

valley

noun

val·​ley ˈval-ē 

plural valleys

: an area of lowland between ranges of hills or mountains