Meaning & use
original 13 colonies
Last updated
UK/əˌrɪdʒənəl ˌθɜːˈtiːn ˈkɒləniz/
US/əˌrɪdʒənəl ˌθɝːˈtiːn ˈkɑːləniz/
Meaning
proper nounplural
The British settlements along the east coast of North America that joined together to form the United States in 1776.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb: the original 13 colonies were British.
Patterns
- one of the original 13 colonies
Virginia was one of the original 13 colonies.
The original 13 colonies stretched from New Hampshire to Georgia.
Common combinations
- one of the original 13 colonies
- Delaware was one of the original 13 colonies.
- the original 13 colonies declared independence
- The original 13 colonies declared independence in 1776.
- map of the original 13 colonies
- We labeled a map of the original 13 colonies.
- former 13 colonies
- The former 13 colonies became states.
Synonyms and how they differ
- thirteen colonies
- Is the same group, simply spelled out.
- founding states
- Describes them after independence rather than as colonies.
Word family
Commonly confused: original 13 colonies or New England colonies?
original 13 colonies vs New England colonies
New England colonies were only four of the thirteen, the northern ones.
Practice
Which of these was one of the original 13 colonies?
Choose one answer.
Georgia was the southernmost of the thirteen. The others joined the Union later.
Make it your own
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