Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Dictionary

glen

noun \ˈglen\

: a narrow valley

Full Definition of GLEN

: a secluded narrow valley

See glen defined for English-language learners

See glen defined for kids

ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of GLEN

Middle English (Scots), valley, from Scottish Gaelic & Irish gleann, from Old Irish glenn

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with GLEN

ben, den, en, fen, Fenn, gen, hen, ken, Ken, n, pen, Rennes, Seine, sen, Sten, ten, then, wen, when, wren, Wren, yen, Zen

GLEN Defined for Kids

glen

noun \ˈglen\

Definition of GLEN for Kids

: a narrow hidden valley

Learn More About GLEN

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "glen"

Nglish: Translation of "glen" for Spanish speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "glen"

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: glengarryPrevious Word in the Dictionary: gleizationAll Words Near: glen

ADVERTISEMENT

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up glen? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated