forest

forest — noun

1. a broad stretch of ground covered with many trees growing thickly, bigger than a

1.nounA2
Definition

a broad stretch of ground covered with many trees growing thickly, bigger than a small group of trees or a wood

Example

Hao and his family went hiking in a forest in the mountains last weekend.

collocation: in a forest

The dense forest near Abigail's village is home to deer and many kinds of birds.

Common collocations
  • dense forest
  • tropical forest
  • rainforest
  • forest fire
  • forest floor
  • forest clearing
  • walk through the forest
Synonyms
  • woodland

    an area of land with trees, but less dense and often smaller than a forest

  • woods

    a smaller area of trees near people's homes, used more in everyday speech

  • jungle

    a tropical forest with very thick, tangled plant growth

Antonyms
  • clearing

    an open area inside a forest with no trees

  • desert

    a dry area without trees or much plant life

Grammar Patterns

a/the forest

forests

in the forest

through the forest

2. a large number of tall, thin things that stand very close together, making the a

2.nounB2
Definition

a large number of tall, thin things that stand very close together, making the area look like a forest

Example

When Devika entered the old factory, she saw a forest of metal pipes and machines.

pattern: a forest of [objects]

The city skyline looked like a forest of glass towers reaching into the clouds.

Common collocations
  • a forest of chimneys
  • a forest of masts
  • a forest of skyscrapers
  • a forest of signs
Synonyms
  • profusion

    a large amount of something growing or appearing together; more formal

  • thicket

    a dense group of bushes, trees, or similar objects; suggests something you have to push through

Grammar Patterns

a forest of + [plural noun]

Usage Note

Most common in literary or descriptive writing with the structure 'a forest of + [plural noun]'.

Idioms

not see the forest for the trees

idiom

to be unable to understand the most important point about a situation because you are paying too much attention to small, separate details

Luca could not see the forest for the trees — he worried about small mistakes but missed the main problem.

Noa told Caleb he could not see the forest for the trees, arguing about prices but ignoring whether the house fit his family.

forest — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Forest, woodland, woods, and jungle all describe areas with trees and vegetation, but they differ in size, density, and setting. A forest is the largest — a vast area with thick tree cover and a fully developed ecosystem. Woodland is more open, with trees spread further apart and more sunlight reaching the ground, often used in British English for managed natural areas. Woods (plural) are smaller than forests, closer to towns, and commonly used in everyday speech ('a walk in the woods'). Jungle refers specifically to tropical forests with extremely dense, tangled growth, high rainfall, and intense biodiversity. For example: 'The Amazon is a vast tropical forest, home to millions of species.' says scale. But 'The woodland behind Joshua's school has many walking paths and wildflowers.' suggests openness. 'They filmed the movie in a jungle thick with vines and mud.' emphasizes density.

forest ↗woodland ↗woodsjungle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • forest fire
  • forest floor
  • forest cover
  • forest ecosystem

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'forest' came into English from Old French 'forest', which came from Latin 'forestis silva' meaning 'the outside wood' — the woodland outside the settled, cultivated area. The Latin 'foris' means 'outside' or 'outdoor'. In medieval times, a forest was not just any wooded area but a royal hunting ground with special laws. Over time the meaning shifted to any large area covered with trees.