valley
VAL-ee
/ˈvæli/
A low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream running through it.
Implies low, elongated, often fertile land sheltered by surrounding higher terrain.
The story behind the word. Passed from Latin 'vallis' through Old French 'valee' into Middle English. It has consistently described the elongated lowlands carved between mountain ranges by flowing water or moving ice.
Word relationships
- dale: 'Dale' is an archaic or poetic English term for a valley.
- vale: 'Vale' is a literary synonym for valley.
- peak: A peak is the highest point of a mountain, whereas a valley is the lowest point between mountains.
Commonly confused with
- canyon: A canyon features extremely steep, near-vertical cliff walls, whereas a valley usually features sloping, broader terrain.
Collocations
- fertile valley
- deep valley
- lush valley
- river valley
Idioms & expressions
- through the valley of shadow (through dark or perilous times)
Example sentences
- "I walked through the quiet valley, observing the stream carved into the soil." Nature writing
- "Ancient civilizations frequently flourished along river banks situated in a fertile valley." Geography and settlements
Memory hook
A Valley forms a 'V' shape between two sloping mountain sides. V-shaped low land between hills.
When not to use
Do not use for elevated landmasses or deep vertical rock gorges with sheer cliffs.
Fun facts
- Death Valley in California is the lowest point in North America, sitting 86 meters below sea level.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.