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

Mairena lived with his family in a valley, accessible only by horseback. —Cd Goette-Luciak, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2025

When hot, dry conditions occur in one peak or valley of the jet, another may experience colder, wetter conditions. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025

People continued to move into fire-prone foothills and valleys. —Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025

Snow showers tonight into Thursday morning may bring additional accumulations of up to 2 inches in the valleys. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 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