VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

bushes

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈbʊʃɪz/
US/ˈbʊʃɪz/

“bushes” is a form of “bush”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    Low, thick woody plants with many stems that grow close together, smaller than trees.

    Grammar: This is the plural form; the singular is bush. Use it for more than one plant.

    Patterns

    • a row of bushes
    • trim the bushes
    • hide behind the bushes

    The children hid behind the bushes in the garden.

    We planted new bushes along the front fence.

    The path was lined with thick green bushes.

  2. nounpluralinformalregional

    Areas of wild land covered with low woody plants, especially in Australia and Africa.

    Grammar: Often used with the: the bushes. It refers to a general area, not specific plants.

    Patterns

    • in the bushes
    • out in the bushes

    They got lost in the bushes for two days.

    Many animals live out in the bushes.

Word forms

singularbush

Common combinations

rose bushes
The rose bushes are full of pink flowers.
a bush fire
Bush fires spread quickly in dry weather.
beat around the bush
Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.
bushy
He has thick, bushy eyebrows.

Synonyms and how they differ

shrub
Shrub is the more technical word for the same kind of plant; bushes is the everyday term.
hedge
A hedge is a row of bushes planted close together to form a barrier; bushes can grow anywhere.

Word family

bushy adjective
Growing thickly like a bush; used for hair or tails.
bush noun
One low woody plant.

Commonly confused: bushes or bush?

bushes vs bush

Bush is singular; bushes is plural. Say 'a bush' for one plant and 'bushes' for two or more.

Practice

Choose the correct sentence.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bushes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words