great plains: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “great plains” mean?
A major subregion of North America, a vast, semi-arid plateau east of the Rocky Mountains, stretching from Canada to Mexico, characterized by grasslands, low rainfall, and few trees.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major subregion of North America, a vast, semi-arid plateau east of the Rocky Mountains, stretching from Canada to Mexico, characterized by grasslands, low rainfall, and few trees.
A specific geographic and cultural region, historically home to Native American tribes and later a center for cattle ranching and agriculture, often evoking imagery of wide-open spaces, frontier life, and environmental challenges like the Dust Bowl.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept is equally understood, but much more frequently referenced and studied in American geography, history, and culture.
Connotations
In the US: Strong historical, cultural, and environmental connotations (pioneers, cowboys, Dust Bowl, Native American history). In the UK: Primarily a geographical term with associated historical imagery.
Frequency
Significantly more common in American English across all contexts (academic, media, everyday). In British English, it's mostly encountered in geographical, historical, or travel contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “great plains” in a Sentence
[The] Great Plains + [verb: stretch, extend, lie][Preposition: on, in, across] + the Great PlainsThe Great Plains + [are/were] + [adjective: vast, flat, arid]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great plains” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The documentary aimed to great-plains the experience, focusing on vast, empty landscapes. (rare, poetic/non-standard)
American English
- The storm system will Great-Plains its way eastward. (informal, figurative)
adverb
American English
- The wind blew Great-Plains strong across the field. (informal, figurative)
adjective
British English
- He has a Great-Plains directness about him. (figurative, rare)
American English
- They loved the Great-Plains sky, endless and clear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in agriculture, energy (wind farms), or tourism sectors specific to the region.
Academic
Common in Geography, History, Environmental Science, and American Studies.
Everyday
Used in general discussion of US geography, history, weather reports for the region, or travel plans.
Technical
Used in climatology, ecology, and geology with precise boundaries (e.g., "the Great Plains ecoregion").
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great plains”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great plains”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great plains”
- Writing in lower case ('great plains').
- Using a singular verb ('The Great Plains is...') – treat as plural: 'The Great Plains are...'.
- Confusing with the broader 'Midwest' or 'Prairie' regions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as a plural noun (e.g., 'The Great Plains are...'), as it refers to a collection of plains.
Primarily the United States and Canada, with a small portion extending into northern Mexico.
The Midwest is a broader cultural and economic region that includes parts of the Great Plains but also more wooded and urban areas further east. The Great Plains are specifically the drier, grassland-dominated western portion.
It is named for its immense size ('Great') and its predominantly flat, treeless landscape ('Plains').
A major subregion of North America, a vast, semi-arid plateau east of the Rocky Mountains, stretching from Canada to Mexico, characterized by grasslands, low rainfall, and few trees.
Great plains is usually formal/neutral in register.
Great plains: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈpleɪnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈpleɪnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(As) flat as the Great Plains (informal simile)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GREAT in size, PLAINS in terrain. A great, plain area.
Conceptual Metaphor
The Great Plains as a SEA OF GRASS; a FRONTIER; a BREADBASKET.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a key historical event associated with the Great Plains?