Synonyms of prairienext
often attributive
1
: land in or predominantly in grass
2
: a tract of grassland: such as
a
: a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
b
: one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil

Examples of prairie in a Sentence

Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies. The train tracks extend over miles of prairie.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As with their neighbors to the south, residents of Canada’s western prairie and mountain provinces take pride in a pioneering spirit and rugged independence that have enabled them to prosper in often harsh terrain. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026 Arbor Hills has wooded paths, open prairies, and even a creek, presenting the whole package to any outdoorsman without ever leaving the confines of the city. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Vintage finds, including an antique Swedish farm table, sit alongside custom bronze racks, while a swath of grass has been installed along the length of the shopfront window, nodding to the prairies of Wescoat Pound’s native Midwest. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 On the ground, bike riders and hikers pass prairie plants and native grasses laden with early fall seed — little blue stem, yellow prairie grass, goldenrod, whorled milkweed, purple cone flower, common milkweed, coreopsis and others. — Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prairie

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French praierie, from Vulgar Latin *prataria, from Latin pratum meadow

First Known Use

circa 1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prairie was circa 1682

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prairie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a large area of level or rolling grassland

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