ridge

1.nounB1

Definition

a long narrow piece of raised land that runs along the highest part of a mountain or hill, with the ground sloping down on both sides

Example

The hikers followed the narrow ridge for two hours before reaching the shelter.

followed + ridge (hiking context)

From the ridge, Emre could see the entire valley spread out below him.

Common collocations

mountain ridge
rocky ridge
narrow ridge
ridge trail
ridge line
ridge top

Synonyms

crest
refers to the very highest point or line of a hill, often sharper than a ridge
spine
suggests a long continuous backbone of a mountain system, more literary
escarpment
a steep ridge or cliff formed by erosion, more dramatic in scale

Antonyms

valley
the low area between two ridges
trough
a long narrow depression, the opposite shape
dip
a downward slope or hollow

Grammar Patterns

the + ridge

ridge + of + noun

Usage Note

Also describes any long raised line on a flat surface, such as marks on skin, fabric, or wood. For the mountain meaning, commonly paired with 'along', 'across', or 'on top of'.

Common Mistakes

We hiked to the ridge of the roof.

We hiked along the mountain ridge.

'ridge of a roof' is a separate sense (see ROOF TOP).

The ridge of the mountain was flat and wide.

The ridge of the mountain was narrow and sharp.

a ridge is by definition narrow.

2.nounB2

Definition

the highest line along which the two sloping surfaces of a roof join

Example

A thick layer of snow settled on the roof ridge after the storm.

roof ridge collocation

The carpenter replaced three broken tiles along the ridge of the roof.

Common collocations

roof ridge
ridge tile
ridge beam
ridge of the roof
along the ridge

Synonyms

roof peak
more general, can mean the highest point rather than the line
ridgepole
the wooden beam that runs along the ridge of a roof, more technical

Antonyms

eave
the lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall
gutter
a channel along the eave for carrying away rain

Grammar Patterns

the + ridge

ridge + of + roof

Usage Note

Mainly used in architecture, construction, and home-maintenance contexts. The ridge of a roof is its highest horizontal line, distinct from the eaves (the lower edges).

Common Mistakes

The bird sat on the ridge of the mountain.' (when meaning the roof of a house)

The bird sat on the ridge of the roof.

if you mean a house-top, use 'roof ridge' or 'roof top'.

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to shape a surface so that it has a raised line or long narrow bump running along it

Example

The farmer ridged the soil into straight lines before planting the seeds.

ridged the soil (farming context)

The machine ridges the metal sheets to make them stronger and stiffer.

Common collocations

ridge the soil
ridge the clay
ridge the dough
be ridged with
ridged surface

Synonyms

furrow
creates grooves rather than raised lines; opposite direction
corrugate
forms parallel folds or ridges, especially in metal or cardboard, more technical
groove
creates a channel or indentation rather than a raised line

Antonyms

flatten
to make a surface level and smooth
smooth
to remove ridges and bumps

Grammar Patterns

ridge + noun

be ridged + with + noun

Usage Note

Often used in farming (ridging soil for planting), crafting (ridging clay or metal), and cooking (ridging pastry). The passive form 'be ridged with' is common for describing surfaces marked by natural or wear-related lines.

Common Mistakes

The hills ridge across the plain.

The hills stretch across the plain in a series of ridges.

'ridge' as a transitive verb means to actively create ridges, not to exist as a ridge. For a natural state, use the intransitive sense (see EXTEND ALONG).

2.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to stretch across an area in long narrow raised lines

Example

The desert floor ridged in long parallel lines shaped by the wind.

ridged in + pattern (descriptive)

North of the village, the hills ridged gently toward the coast.

Common collocations

ridge across
ridge toward
ridge in lines
ridge gently

Synonyms

undulate
moves in a wave-like pattern, softer than ridging
slope
simply inclines, without the forming of distinct raised lines

Antonyms

flatten out
to become level and lose raised lines

Grammar Patterns

ridge + across/along/toward + noun

Usage Note

A fairly literary or formal verb. More common in descriptive writing about landscapes than in everyday conversation. In casual speech, 'form ridges' or 'run in ridges' is preferred.

Word family

ridgy
adjectiveC1
ridged
adjectiveB2
ridging
nounC1
ridgepole
nounC1
ridgeline
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A ridge is a long narrow stretch of high land running along the top of a mountain or hill. A crest refers specifically to the very topmost line of a hill or ridge — the highest point. A spine suggests a long continuous backbone-like ridge that extends over a great distance, often used for describing major mountain systems in literary contexts. A range is a series of connected mountains or hills, of which a ridge may be just one part. A peak is a single pointed summit, whereas a ridge is elongated by nature. For example: 'The hikers followed the ridge for three miles before climbing to the peak at the far end.' Another way to see the difference: you stand on a ridge, climb to a crest, look at a peak, and cross a range.

crest ↗spine ↗range ↗peak ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

trail
line
top
edge
crest

Adverbs

Phrases

ridge of the mountain
ridge of the roof
ridge of the hill
form a ridge
run along a ridge

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'hrycg', meaning 'back of a person or animal, spine, crest'. The word is related to Dutch 'rug' and German 'Rücken', both meaning 'back'. By the Middle English period, 'ridge' was already used for the crest of a hill and the top edge of a roof — the same two core senses that survive today.

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ridge

ridge — noun

1. a long narrow piece of raised land that runs along the highest part of a mountai

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. the highest line along which the two sloping surfaces of a roof join

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

ridge — verb

1. to shape a surface so that it has a raised line or long narrow bump running alon

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to stretch across an area in long narrow raised lines

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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