dune

noun

ˈdün How to pronounce dune (audio)
also ˈdyün
Synonyms of dunenext
: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind
dunelike
ˈdün-ˌlīk How to pronounce dune (audio)
also ˈdyün-
adjective

Examples of dune in a Sentence

We wandered over the dunes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The story began in the late 19th century, when San Francisco paved over its coastal dunes for development, taking with it a tiny, iridescent butterfly known as the Xerces blue. Itay Hod, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026 Residents raised concerns about fishing grounds, heritage sites, dune systems, and the impact of thousands of workers arriving in small towns, a sign that public resistance could slow the project. Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The otherworldly dunes here resemble the iconic mounds at New Mexico’s White Sands National Park and are magnificent enough to take your breath away. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026 Set within the rolling dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the seven-and-a-half-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive takes travelers through magnificent woodlands, sandy ridges, and sweeping viewpoints along the shores of Lake Michigan. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dune

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English dūn down — more at down

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dune was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dune. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

dune

noun
: a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind

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