Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Containing many mountains; having hills and crags: Used to describe a landscape or region that is full of mountains or characterized by steep, rugged terrain.
   • Like a mountain in size and impressiveness; huge, enormous: Used to describe something that is very large, massive, or imposing in scale, similar to a mountain.

Usage and Examples

• Describing terrain:
  • The mountainous region was difficult to cross. (The area full of mountains was hard to travel through.)
  • They built a cabin in the mountainous wilderness. (They constructed a small house in the wild, hilly area.)
• Describing size or scale:
  • The ship faced mountainous waves during the storm. (The ship encountered enormous, towering waves.)
  • He faced a mountainous pile of paperwork on his desk. (He was confronted with a huge stack of documents.)

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Often used metaphorically to describe non-physical things that are very large or daunting.
  • The company overcame mountainous financial difficulties. (The company succeeded despite huge financial problems.)
  • She felt a mountainous sense of responsibility. (She felt an enormous weight of duty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mountain (n): A large natural elevation of the earth's surface.
• Mountaineer (n): A person who climbs mountains.
• Mountaineering (n): The sport or activity of climbing mountains.

Synonyms

• Hilly: Having many hills.
• Alpine: Relating to high mountains.
• Craggy: Having steep, rugged hills or cliffs.
• Towering: Very high or tall; imposing.
• Colossal: Extremely large.

Antonyms

• Flat: Having a level surface without raised areas.
• Level: Even and flat, without slopes.
• Plain: A large area of flat land with few trees.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Mountainous country/area/region: A land area characterized by many mountains.
• Mountainous task: An idiom-like phrase for a very difficult or enormous job.
  • Organizing the event was a mountainous task. (Planning the event was a huge and challenging job.)
• Mountainous terrain: The physical landscape of a mountainous area.

Adjective

1. containing many mountains
2. like a mountain in size and impressiveness
   • mountainous waves
   • a mountainous dark man
3. having hills and crags
   • hilly terrain