land
land — verb
1. when something such as a plane, bird, or person descends from above and comes to
when something such as a plane, bird, or person descends from above and comes to rest on a solid surface like the ground, a roof, or water.
The plane landed safely at Hong Kong airport after a long flight from London.
intransitive: [vehicle] + land + at [place]
Eitan guided his small plane down and landed it perfectly on the grassy field.
transitive: [pilot] + land + [vehicle] + on [surface]
A large bird landed on the fence outside Jin's bedroom window this morning.
The helicopter landed gently on the hospital roof to pick up the injured hiker.
intransitive with purpose: land + on [surface] + to [reason]
If a passenger plane has to land on water, the crew follows special safety steps.
- land safely
- land on a runway
- land at an airport
- land on water
- touch down
less formal, used mainly for aircraft
- alight
formal verb used for birds or people stepping down from a vehicle
- take off
to leave the ground and begin flying
Grammar Patterns
land + (adverb of place)
land + [vehicle] + on/at [surface]
Usage Note
Can be used both with or without an object. With an object (transitive), the subject is typically a pilot or driver. Without an object (intransitive), the subject is the vehicle or living thing that descends.
Common Mistakes
2. when a ship, boat, or the people on it reaches the shore or a port after a journ
when a ship, boat, or the people on it reaches the shore or a port after a journey on water.
The cruise ship landed at the port of Kaohsiung early in the morning.
intransitive: [ship] + land + at [port]
After three weeks at sea, the fishing boat finally landed back at its home harbor.
Romi's ferry landed at the island dock just before the storm began.
Many ships used to land at this small harbor to trade spices and silk.
intransitive with purpose: land + at [place] + to [reason]
The old sailor felt relieved when his ship landed safely after the rough voyage.
- land at a port
- land safely
- land back at harbor
- dock
more specific — to bring a ship into a dock
- come ashore
phrasal verb focusing on people reaching land
- set sail
to begin a journey by sea, leave the shore
Grammar Patterns
land + at [port/harbour/dock]
Usage Note
Used for ships and boats arriving at a coastal point. Unlike the aviation sense (sense 1), this sense describes a vessel reaching the edge of the land, not something descending through air.
Common Mistakes
3. when digital content becomes visible to users on an Internet site or application
when digital content becomes visible to users on an Internet site or application.
When you click the link, a new page lands in your browser within seconds.
intransitive: [page] + lands + in [browser]
Kian's latest video landed on the front page of the video-sharing site.
The advertisement landed on my social media feed just after I searched for hotels.
New blog posts usually land on the company website every Tuesday morning.
intransitive with frequency adverb: [content] + [adv] + land + on [website]
Devika's photos landed on the photography website and got hundreds of likes.
- land on a page
- land in an inbox
- land on a feed
Grammar Patterns
land + on [website/platform/feed]
land + in [browser/inbox]
Usage Note
Frequently used in digital marketing and web development contexts. The subject is usually the content (page, post, ad) rather than a person. Compare with sense 1 (physical descent) and sense 2 (sea arrival).
4. to move people or things from a ship or an aircraft onto the land after the jour
to move people or things from a ship or an aircraft onto the land after the journey ends.
The workers spent all morning landing boxes of fruit from the cargo ship.
transitive: [workers] + land + [goods] + from [vehicle]
The airline landed the passengers and their luggage at the terminal within an hour.
Christopher helped the crew land the heavy equipment from the military plane.
The port authority landed the containers onto trucks for transport to the warehouse.
passive/agentive: [authority] + land + [goods] + onto [vehicle] + for [purpose]
Fishermen landed their catch of tuna at the local fish market before sunrise.
- land cargo
- land passengers
- land goods
- land at a port
- load
to put goods onto a vehicle
Grammar Patterns
land + [people/goods] + from [vehicle]
land + [goods] + at [place]
Usage Note
The object is usually cargo, goods, or passengers. The vehicle is typically a boat or aircraft; for road vehicles, use 'unload' instead.
Common Mistakes
5. to bring a fish that you have caught out of the water and into your boat or onto
to bring a fish that you have caught out of the water and into your boat or onto the shore.
The fisherman landed a huge salmon after a twenty-minute struggle with his line.
transitive: [fisherman] + land + [fish] + [time context]
Élise learned to land fish gently so she could release them back into the river.
The crew landed over fifty kilos of mackerel during their overnight fishing trip on the boat.
transitive with quantity: land + [quantity] + of [fish]
Andrew carefully landed the trout and placed it in the bucket of water.
Local anglers often land bass from this spot near the old bridge.
- land a fish
- land a salmon
- land a catch
Grammar Patterns
land + [type/quantity of fish]
Usage Note
Distinguish from the general verb 'catch.' 'Land' adds the idea of completing the catch — bringing the fish fully out of the water, not just hooking it.
Common Mistakes
6. to succeed in obtaining a valuable opportunity or benefit, often with less effor
to succeed in obtaining a valuable opportunity or benefit, often with less effort or more luck than one might expect.
Ayana landed her dream job at the design studio after just one interview.
transitive: [person] + land + [desirable job] + [context]
The company landed a huge contract with a Japanese electronics manufacturer this spring.
Mateo somehow landed a front-row ticket to the concert even though it was sold out.
informal: land + [scarce item] + despite [obstacle]
The young actor landed the lead role in the film after only a small audition.
Ife landed a scholarship to study engineering at a top university in Canada.
- land a job
- land a contract
- land a deal
- land a role
- land a ticket
- secure
more formal, suggests effort rather than luck
- get hold of
informal phrasal verb, similar level of casualness
- lose
to fail to keep something desirable
- miss out on
to fail to obtain something
Grammar Patterns
land + [desirable thing: job/contract/deal/role]
Usage Note
Informal and conversational. The object is always something desirable. Frequently used in business (job, contract, deal), entertainment (role, part), and everyday contexts (ticket, prize).
Common Mistakes
7. When a comment, joke, or planned action lands, it produces the desired reaction
When a comment, joke, or planned action lands, it produces the desired reaction or effect on the people who experience it.
Tunde told a funny story at dinner, and it really landed with everyone.
land + with [audience group]
The comedian's joke about trains did not land, and the audience stayed silent.
Samir's suggestion for the project landed well, and the team agreed to try it.
land + adverb (well)
Élise worried her apology would not land, but her friend accepted it.
The teacher's attempt at a joke did not land, so she moved on.
- land well
- land badly
- land with someone
- land perfectly
- joke lands
- succeed
more general — can refer to any kind of success, while 'land' specifically implies a positive reaction from others
- resonate
more formal; suggests a deeper emotional connection rather than just having the intended effect
- work
informal and broad; 'work' can replace 'land' in many contexts but lacks the audience-reaction nuance
Grammar Patterns
land + adverb
land + with [audience]
Usage Note
The subject is typically a remark, joke, suggestion, or intended action. Almost always used with an adverb or a prepositional phrase describing the audience's reaction. Does not refer to physical arrival on the ground — that is sense 1 (ARRIVE).
Common Mistakes
8. To hit someone with a punch or physical strike; or for such a blow to reach its
To hit someone with a punch or physical strike; or for such a blow to reach its target and make contact as intended.
The boxer landed a powerful punch to his opponent's jaw in the third round.
land a blow/punch (transitive)
Mizuki tried to block the kick, but it still landed on her shoulder.
blow/kick + land (intransitive)
Rodrigo landed two quick blows before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Cole's wild swing did not land, and he lost his balance for a moment.
The fighter kept attacking as the blows landed again and again.
- land a blow
- land a punch
- land a kick
- blow lands
- punch lands
- miss
the strike does not reach its target
Grammar Patterns
land a blow/punch + on [person]
blow/punch + land
Usage Note
When used intransitively, the subject is the physical strike itself ('the punch landed'). When used transitively, the subject is the person delivering the strike and the object names the type of blow ('she landed a kick').
Common Mistakes
9. In sports and physical activities, to complete a jump, trick, or difficult movem
In sports and physical activities, to complete a jump, trick, or difficult movement without falling, stumbling, or making a mistake.
The skater landed a perfect triple axel at the competition.
land + [sports move name]
Apinya landed her first backflip on the balance beam during practice.
The snowboarder attempted a difficult jump but did not land it cleanly.
Lukas landed a 360-degree spin on his skateboard for the first time.
Asher landed the vault perfectly, earning a high score from the judges.
land + the vault (sports specific)
- land a jump
- land a trick
- land a vault
- land a backflip
- land a somersault
Grammar Patterns
land + [sports move name]
Usage Note
The object is always the name of the sports move being completed (e.g., 'a triple axel', 'a backflip', 'the vault'). Common in gymnastics, figure skating, snowboarding, and skateboarding. Does not refer to winning a match or scoring points — only to completing a specific movement.
Common Mistakes
land — noun
1. the solid, dry ground on our planet that is not under an ocean or sea
the solid, dry ground on our planet that is not under an ocean or sea
After weeks at sea, the crew cheered when they finally spotted land.
contrast with sea
The turtle slowly moved across the land to find a safe place to dig.
Most of the Earth's surface is water, but about thirty percent is land.
Rodrigo travelled by land from Mexico to Canada, sleeping in a small tent.
by land (method of travel)
- on land
- by land
- sight land
- reach land
- spot land
Usage Note
Uncountable — do not use with an article ('a land' has a different meaning, see sense 4). Often contrasted with 'sea' or 'air' in expressions such as 'by land' and 'on land'.
Common Mistakes
2. ground that people own or put to a specific goal, such as growing food, building
ground that people own or put to a specific goal, such as growing food, building houses, or keeping as investment property
The farmer bought twenty acres of land to grow wheat and corn.
acres / piece / plot of land
Nkechi inherited a small plot of land from her grandmother.
collocation: plot of land
The city council is looking for suitable land to build a new school.
Developers want to turn this farmland into housing for two thousand people.
changing land use
The land near the river floods every spring and cannot be farmed.
- piece of land
- plot of land
- buy land
- own land
- agricultural land
- building land
- waste land
Usage Note
Often modified by adjectives describing type or purpose: 'agricultural land', 'building land', 'waste land', 'private land'. Frequently appears with quantifiers: 'a piece of land', 'a plot of land', 'a stretch of land'.
Common Mistakes
3. farms, farmland, and country areas, especially when thought of as a way of life
farms, farmland, and country areas, especially when thought of as a way of life that is different from city living
Yael grew up on the land, helping her parents with the animals and crops.
collocation: on / off / work the land
Many young people leave the land to find jobs in big cities.
The family has worked the land for five generations without owning it.
collocation: work the land
Élise prefers living on the land to the noise and rush of city life.
contrast with city life
- the land
- work the land
- live on the land
- leave the land
- return to the land
- countryside
rural areas in general; less tied to farming as an occupation than 'the land'
- farmland
land used specifically for growing crops or raising animals
Usage Note
Almost always used with the definite article ('the land') to refer to farming as a way of life. Cannot be used with numbers or plurals in this sense.
Common Mistakes
4. a place that people think of with strong emotion because of its history, beauty,
a place that people think of with strong emotion because of its history, beauty, or a feeling of belonging
The team visited many foreign lands during their year-long research trip.
collocation: foreign lands
Tara felt deep love for the land of her ancestors, though she had never seen it.
emotional / literary register
The king ruled over a vast land stretching from the mountains to the sea.
Ireland is often called the Emerald Isle, a land of green hills and rainy weather.
The explorers set sail for unknown lands full of mystery and promise.
collocation: unknown lands
- foreign lands
- distant lands
- native land
- land of ...
- unknown lands
- far-off lands
Usage Note
More literary, poetic, or emotional than 'country'. In everyday conversation, 'country' is the neutral choice. This sense is countable and can appear in the plural ('far-off lands').
Common Mistakes
This means being awake, alive, or recovered from an illness.
After a long nap, Min finally returned to the land of the living.
Are you back in the land of the living now, Brian?
in the land of Nod
idiomThis means being asleep.
Sara was still in the land of Nod when her alarm went off.
The baby is in the land of Nod, so please be quiet.
This refers to a place where life is comfortable, prosperous, and happy.
Many immigrants saw America as the land of milk and honey.
Is that small town really the land of milk and honey?
the lie of the land
idiomThis describes the physical shape and features of an area of land.
The hikers studied the lie of the land before starting their climb.
You should check the lie of the land before building a house.
This means to have enough money to enjoy expensive food, drink, and other luxuries.
After winning the lottery, they lived off the fat of the land.
Diego dreamed of living off the fat of the land in retirement.
This means to find out what the situation is before taking action.
Let's see how the land lies before we make a decision.
Maya wanted to see how the land lies before investing.
spy out the land
idiomThis means to gather information secretly before deciding what to do.
The general sent scouts to spy out the land ahead.
Before buying the company, Aiden spied out the land.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
這些詞都和「land」有關，但用法不同。'Land' 最常用來指相對於海洋的陸地（on land / by land），以及可擁有、買賣或耕種的土地（a piece of land）。'Ground' 指腳下踩著的地面（sit on the ground），比 land 更局部、更具體。'Earth' 可以指整個行星或土壤（the earth / a handful of earth），但不用來指可購買的土地。'Soil' 專指植物生長的土壤（fertile soil），不指陸地。'Country' 則指政治意義上的國家，而非地理上的陸地。例如：The farmer owns a lot of land.（農夫擁有很多土地。）但 sit on the ground（坐在地上）、dig in the soil（在土壤中挖掘）、visit a foreign country（訪問一個外國），這些搭配不能互換。
Common collocations
Nouns
- piece of land
- plot of land
- tract of land
- work the land
- own land
- buy land
- foreign lands
- native land
Adverbs
- by land
- on land
Phrases
- by land, sea, and air
- the land of opportunity
- land of the free
- on land and at sea
- sight land
Prepositions
- land on
- land at
- land in
- land of
Etymology
源自中世紀古英語 land（地面、領土），往上可追溯至原始日耳曼語 *landą（土地、家園）。同源詞包括荷蘭語 land、德語 Land、瑞典語 land。此詞在英語中的基本含義（相對於海洋的陸地）自八世紀就有記載，後來延伸出「國家、國土」（約西元1200年）、「土地財產」（13世紀）、以及「降落、著陸」（15世紀）等動詞用法。