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

Ideal for motorized vehicles, this mountainous camping and RV spot’s most popular feature is its mountaintop observation deck, which features spectacular views of Nantahala National Forest.

From Outside Online

Young riders with an eye towards mountainous adventures have to start somewhere, too, and this is the perfect first step.

From Popular-Science

Rather than try to persuade deniers, Jones spends most of the rest of the film meeting people closer to the middle of the spectrum in the mountainous swing state of Nevada.

From Outside Online

He bought, for around $9 million, a parcel of mountainous land in Fiji, another group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

From Quartz

If you stay at one of the hotels Valeri Chekheria runs in the mountainous, stunningly beautiful country of Georgia, you’re bound to have a good time.

From Ozy

The narrowest piece of land was at Panama, but it was covered in dense, mountainous jungle.

From The Daily Beast

“Cases may be hidden by communities, cases may be happening in areas that are remote and far off mountainous areas,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

Earlier this year, army Apaches shot up several convoys that refused to stop while navigating mountainous dunes near the border.

From The Daily Beast

For years, the military was content to leave the mountainous Kunar and Nuristan region to insurgents and their Islamist allies.

From The Daily Beast

For the adventurous, the area is surrounded by waterfalls, zip lines, and gorgeous mountainous scenery.

From The Daily Beast

The sun had risen, when the equipage that contained Louis de Montemar, ascended the mountainous heights of the Guadarama.

From Project Gutenberg

Bits of woodland arePg 129 interspersed with bright green sheep pastures and high, almost mountainous, bluffs overhang the valley.

From Project Gutenberg

To our left lay a number of mountainous islands, which completely intercepted our view of Sumatra.

From Project Gutenberg

Here and there detached mountainous masses produce a singular local increase in the amount of the rainfall.

From Project Gutenberg

Mountainous countries always keep their characteristics longer than others.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• highland