mountainous

[ moun-tn-uhs ]

adjective

1. abounding in mountains:

   a mountainous wilderness.

2. of the nature of a mountain.
3. resembling a mountain or mountains, as being very large and high:

   mountainous waves.

mountainous

/ ˈmaʊntɪnəs /

adjective

1. of or relating to mountains

   a mountainous region

2. like a mountain, esp in size or impressiveness

Derived Forms

• ˈmountainously, adverb
• ˈmountainousness, noun

Other Words From

• mountain·ous·ly adverb
• mountain·ous·ness noun
• non·mountain·ous adjective
• non·mountain·ous·ly adverb
• semi·mountain·ous adjective
• semi·mountain·ous·ly adverb
• un·mountain·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mountainous¹

First recorded in 1400–50, mountainous is from the late Middle English word mounteynous. See mountain, -ous

Example Sentences

The terrain is mountainous, with parts covered by thick forests making it easy for migrants to go undetected.

From BBC

The wounds of Hurricane Helene are still raw in the western mountainous part of the state.

From BBC

But in recent months, he has made headlines for holding protests seeking more autonomy for people in his home region of Ladakh, a mountainous cold desert bordering Pakistan and China.

From BBC

In 1999, the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist movement that emerged triumphant from the Afghan civil war, wanted to legitimize themselves on the world stage as the rightful rulers of this mountainous land.

From Salon

Under that moniker, she started releasing music in 2012, gaining widespread acclaim for tracks like Exodus and the mountainous house anthem He Is The Voice I Hear.

From BBC

Related Words

• highland