great dividing range: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Geographical, Educational
Quick answer
What does “great dividing range” mean?
The major mountain range and watershed in eastern Australia, running parallel to the coast from Queensland, through New South Wales, to Victoria.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The major mountain range and watershed in eastern Australia, running parallel to the coast from Queensland, through New South Wales, to Victoria.
A major geological and geographical feature of Australia, acting as a climatic barrier separating the coastal plains from the inland deserts and plateaus. It is often used as a quintessential example of Australia's natural landscape in historical, geographical, and environmental contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties, as it is a proper noun for a feature in Australia. Minor spelling differences (e.g., 'range' vs. 'range') do not apply. It is a geographical term, not subject to regional lexical variation.
Connotations
Primarily geographical and historical. Connotes Australian identity, exploration, and the natural barrier shaping settlement and climate.
Frequency
Used almost exclusively in geographical, historical, and environmental contexts. Low frequency in general discourse but a standard term in relevant fields.
Grammar
How to Use “great dividing range” in a Sentence
[The] + Great Dividing Range + [verb, e.g., runs, separates, forms][Preposition, e.g., across, over, through] + the + Great Dividing RangeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great dividing range” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The expedition aimed to great-divide the continent, but the Range already does that.
adjective
British English
- The Great-Dividing-Range watershed is crucial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism (e.g., 'Great Dividing Range tours') or agriculture (e.g., 'vineyards on the western slopes of the Range').
Academic
Common in geography, geology, environmental science, and Australian history texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing Australian geography, travel, or weather patterns (e.g., 'The rain comes from the east, over the Range').
Technical
Used in geology (formation, rock types), hydrology (watershed), and climatology (orographic rainfall).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great dividing range”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great dividing range”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great dividing range”
- Incorrect: 'a great dividing range' (lowercase, implying a type). Correct: 'the Great Dividing Range'.
- Incorrect: 'Great Divided Range'. Correct: 'Dividing' (present participle, it performs the action).
- Incorrect use of plural: 'Great Dividing Ranges'. It is one continuous range system.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not the longest in the world (the Andes and Mid-Ocean Ridge are longer), but it is the longest in Australia and one of the longest in the world by continental measure.
It is called 'Dividing' because it forms the main watershed of eastern Australia, dividing rivers that flow east to the Pacific Ocean from those that flow inland to the Murray-Darling basin or into internal deserts.
Yes, there are several major highways and passes that cross the range, connecting coastal cities like Sydney and Brisbane to inland regions.
It is not one unbroken chain but rather a complex series of plateaus, upland areas, and mountain ranges that form a continuous watershed along most of Australia's eastern edge.
The major mountain range and watershed in eastern Australia, running parallel to the coast from Queensland, through New South Wales, to Victoria.
Great dividing range is usually formal, geographical, educational in register.
Great dividing range: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt dɪˈvaɪdɪŋ ˈreɪndʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt dɪˈvaɪdɪŋ ˈreɪndʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the wrong side of the Divide (figurative, indicating disadvantage)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: It's a GREAT mountain range that DIVIDES the wet eastern coast of Australia from the dry interior.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BACKBONE (structural support for the continent), a BARRIER/WALL (separating climates and cultures), a WATERSHED (literal and figurative turning point).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary geographical function of the Great Dividing Range?