often attributive
1
: land in or predominantly in grass
2
: a tract of grassland: such as
a
: a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
b
: one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil
Examples of prairie in a Sentence
Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies.
The train tracks extend over miles of prairie.
Recent Examples on the Web
The authors’ arguments in defense of the prairie and its people deserve attention.
—
Monitor Staff, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025
Beneath its wide skies and quiet prairies lies a rugged and surprising variety of landscapes with trails galore.
—Brian Higgins, Outside Online, 20 May 2025
The Fungi in the Carbon Jigsaw Timo Mendez April 16, 2025
Out of sight, below the soil’s surface, fungi play a vital role in the existence and health of our forests, woodlands, jungles, and prairies.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
Pair short retaining walls with prairie or native plants
Use the retaining wall as a pedestal for your native plants.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prairie
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Monitor Staff, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025
Beneath its wide skies and quiet prairies lies a rugged and surprising variety of landscapes with trails galore.
—Brian Higgins, Outside Online, 20 May 2025
The Fungi in the Carbon Jigsaw Timo Mendez April 16, 2025
Out of sight, below the soil’s surface, fungi play a vital role in the existence and health of our forests, woodlands, jungles, and prairies.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
Pair short retaining walls with prairie or native plants
Use the retaining wall as a pedestal for your native plants.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prairie
Cite this Entry
“Prairie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prairie
noun
prai·rie
ˈpre(ə)r-ē 
: a large area of level or rolling grassland
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