lowland

lowland — noun

1. a region where the ground is nearly at the same height as the surface of the oce

1.nounB1
Definition

a region where the ground is nearly at the same height as the surface of the ocean, typically without large hills or steep slopes

Example

After farming the lowland for years, the Watanabe family moved to a mountain house.

collocation: in the lowland

Heavy rain often causes floods in the lowland because the water has nowhere to drain.

Common collocations
  • the lowland
  • the lowlands of + place
  • coastal lowland
  • lowland region
  • lowland area
Synonyms
  • plain

    a large, flat area of land, not necessarily close to sea level; more common in everyday speech

  • flatland

    similar meaning but less frequent; strongly emphasises the absence of hills

  • valley

    low land between hills or mountains, usually with a river running through it; narrower and more defined than lowland

Antonyms
  • highland

    an area of land that is high above sea level, often mountainous

  • upland

    higher-elevation terrain that is hilly rather than flat

Grammar Patterns

the ~

the ~s of [place]

~ + noun

Usage Note

Often appears in the plural form 'the lowlands' to name a specific geographic region. As an uncountable noun, it describes a general type of terrain rather than a named area.

Common Mistakes

The crops grow well in lowland.
The crops grow well in the lowland.
'lowland' as a count noun referring to a specific area usually takes the definite article.
The lowland of Taiwan is very fertile.
The lowlands of Taiwan are very fertile.
when referring to flat regions of a country, the plural form is more natural.

lowland — adjective

Word family

  • lowlander
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Lowland, plain, valley, and flatland all describe land that lacks steep hills or mountains, but they differ in scope and typical use. Lowland emphasises low elevation near sea level and often contrasts with highland or upland in geographic discussions. Plain is the most common word for a broad, flat area and can describe dry grasslands (the Great Plains) or tropical areas; it does not necessarily imply low elevation. Valley refers to a specific depression between hills or mountains, usually with a river, making it narrower and more defined than lowland. Flatland is the least frequent of the four and stresses the absence of slope rather than elevation. For example, you might say 'the lowlands of the Netherlands' to highlight sea-level elevation, but 'the plains of Nebraska' to describe a wide, flat landscape with no elevation emphasis.

lowland ↗plain ↗valley ↗flatland

Common collocations

Nouns

  • lowland area
  • lowland region
  • lowland forest
  • lowland farm
  • lowland crop
  • lowland valley

Phrases

  • the lowlands of + place name
  • coastal lowland

Prepositions

  • in the lowland(s)
  • of the lowland(s)
  • across the lowland(s)

Etymology

Old NorseOld EnglishEnglish

Lowland is formed by combining the adjective 'low' (from Old Norse 'lágr', meaning not tall or elevated) with the noun 'land' (from Old English 'land', meaning ground or territory). The word has been used in English since the 1500s to describe flat, low-lying country, originally in contrast with 'highland'.