island

noun

ˈī-lənd How to pronounce island (audio)
Definition of islandnext
as in isle
a fairly small area of land completely surrounded by water the island of Hawaii is the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 island Its dormant volcano, known as the Quill, dominates the southern part of the island. — R. Grant Gilmore Iii, The Conversation, 30 June 2026 White delivery vans with orange Katapulk logos splashed across each side delivered goods all over the island. — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Others had a tight, considered design, especially the islands meant to highlight a specific weapon or gadget. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026 The tiny nation consisting of 10 little islands off the coast of West Africa is the smallest country ever to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup. — Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for island
Recent Examples of Synonyms for island
  1. isle
  2. atoll
Noun
  • Now, a rare modern masterclass in design takes center stage on the isle’s most coveted strip.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
  • Rising from the Mediterranean, this little isle, full of dramatic peaks and grottoes, has been tempting travelers for 2,000 years.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Definition of isle
Noun
  • Potential profits have encouraged traffickers to ship massive amounts of illicit drugs to both countries, often across the Pacific Ocean from South America via the Pacific Islands, a loose cluster of thousands of islands and atolls.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Hawkes was born in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and adopted as a baby by an American family who raised him in Utah, thousands of miles from the coral atolls of his birthplace.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 June 2026
Definition of atoll

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island
islands
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Cite this Entry

“Island.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/island. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on island

Nglish: Translation of island for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about island

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