low-lying

adjective

low-ly·​ing ˈlō-ˈlī-iŋ 

1

: rising relatively little above the base of measurement

low-lying hills

2

: lying below the normal level, surface, or the base of measurement or mean elevation

low-lying clouds

Synonyms of low-lying

• short
• little
• small
• low
• tiny

Examples of low-lying in a Sentence

the low-lying hills blocked our view of the sea only a little bit

Recent Examples on the Web

When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026

The rooms There are 210 guest rooms and suites spread across a series of low-lying, hacienda-style buildings. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses was possible, as well as in other poor drainage and low-lying areas. —Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Township crews have been producing roughly 3,500 sandbags an hour to keep up with hundreds of calls from homeowners in low-lying areas along the river. —Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for low-lying

• buying
• crying
• drying
• dyeing
• dying
• flying
• frying
• lying
• plying
• prying
• shying
• sighing

Kids Definition

low-lying

adjective

low-ly·​ing

ˈlō-ˈlī-iŋ

: having little upward extension or elevation

low-lying clouds