terrain

noun

tə-ˈrān How to pronounce terrain (audio)
Definition of terrainnext
1
as in area
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence we're moving into unfamiliar terrain if we bring pre-Columbian art into our discussion

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2
as in geography
the physical features of a region as a whole an analysis of the terrain revealed that an invasion force of paratroopers would have their work cut out for them

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3
as in environment
the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded a new senator getting lost in the foggy terrain of double-dealing and deception

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of terrain About 78% of the terrain now under conservation is federal land, including national parks and national forests. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 And at the L’Anse-Pleureuse rest area on Route 198, just outside Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis, the view of a lake surrounded by mountainous terrain is well worth a stop. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026 The shoes can work across multiple rugged terrains and different work environments. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 There is no shortage of flat terrain where a temporary ballpark could be built. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrain
  1. area
  2. geography
  3. environment
  4. realm
  5. topography
  6. atmosphere
  7. element
  8. landscape
Noun
  • Production has wrapped in the New York and New Jersey area, and the film is expected to release in 2027.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Democratic and Republican 2028 contenders alike have been heading to battleground states and districts to boost their names with voters, show campaigning prowess, and make key political allies across important areas of the country.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of area
Noun
  • Africa’s geography also puts it in a position to compete in global trade networks.
    — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Screening Miami Short-Term-Rental Areas Miami’s available BNBCalc geography uses ZIP-code area, not named neighborhood boundaries, as its organizing unit.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of geography
Noun
  • Our research suggests these tombs were designed and constructed not simply to house the dead, but to affect the living through a sensorily immersive environment similar to a modern 3D film experience.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The United States is now demonstrating the technology in operational environments, while simultaneously placing substantial contracts for production systems.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of environment
Noun
  • But surprisingly large realms of online speech remained wide open.
    — Howard W. French, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Getty Images Meta’s new artificial intelligence agent Muse promises to make everything from booking appointments to building playlists easier, but its rollout of agentic shopping, in particular, has the tech and retail realms buzzing.
    — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of realm
Noun
  • Comparisons of seafloor topography before and after the eruption showed that a roughly 4-kilometer-wide caldera sank by about a kilometer during the eruption.
    — Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Keeping an eye on the moon The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has been a workhorse since launching in 2009, using seven instruments to create maps of the moon’s temperature, surface composition, topography and radiation.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of topography
Noun
  • The spa The atmosphere of the entire resort is quite tranquil, and feels spa-like itself.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • That climate pattern sees the heating of ocean waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, which spur changes in the atmosphere that can affect weather around the world.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of atmosphere
Noun
  • One of the most jarring elements of Baird’s documentary — as with most nonfiction projects about Palestinians released in the last few years — is how much of the language featured in the film echoes the contemporary moment.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Colman was dressed in another suiting moment that incorporated casual elements like oversized jeans.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of element
Noun
  • For Miraval The Red Sea, Foster + Partners architects have designed 180 guest rooms, suites, and villas with biophilic shapes and natural materials, allowing the accommodations to seamlessly fit into the landscape.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Washington’s dress came from Wes Gordon’s Carolina Herrera resort 2027 collection, which looked to Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings and the desert landscape surrounding her New Mexico home, Sol y Sombra.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of landscape

Browse Nearby Words

terra firma
terrain
terrains
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrain. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on terrain

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about terrain

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