Illustration of Himalayan
Hi·ma·la·yan
ˌhi-mə-ˈlā-ən 
hi-ˈmäl-yən,
-ˈmä-lē-ən
1
: of, relating to, or resembling the Himalayas
2
: enormously large : mountainous
a task of Himalayan proportions
: any of a breed of domestic cats developed by crossing the Persian and the Siamese and having the stocky build and long thick coat of the former and the blue eyes and coat patterns of the latter
Synonyms of Himalayan
Examples of Himalayan in a Sentence
Adjective
as military blunders go, the disastrous Pickett's Charge was of Himalayan proportions
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Here, in a forest of West Himalayan spruce and cedar, are 124 stone temples, most of which were built between the seventh and 11th centuries.
—Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
In the steep, narrow valleys of the Himalayan Mountains, the impact of these events are acute: destroyed hydropower stations, roads and entire villages wiped away, taking hundreds of lives over the years.
—Dan McGrath, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for Himalayan
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Adjective
Part of the great Alpine-Himalayan mountain system, the Zagros are made up of highly folded and broken rocks that formed over the past 60 million years from the collisions of Africa, Arabia and India with Eurasia.
—Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Here, in a forest of West Himalayan spruce and cedar, are 124 stone temples, most of which were built between the seventh and 11th centuries.
—Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
Much of the Himalayan country is covered by mountains and connected only by narrow roads.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
In the steep, narrow valleys of the Himalayan Mountains, the impact of these events are acute: destroyed hydropower stations, roads and entire villages wiped away, taking hundreds of lives over the years.
—Dan McGrath, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for Himalayan
Cite this Entry
“Himalayan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Himalayan. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Himalayan
1 of 2 adjective
Hi·ma·la·yan
ˌhim-ə-ˈlā-ən
him-ˈäl-(ə-)yən
him-ˈäl-(ə-)yən
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Himalaya Mountains
Himalayan
2 of 2 noun
: any of a breed of stocky blue-eyed domestic cats that have a long thick coat and a pale body with darker ears, paws, tail, and face
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