Meaning & use
ridge
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Meanings
nouncountable
A long, narrow stretch of high ground, especially along the top of a hill or mountain.
Grammar: Often used with along or across: we walked along the ridge.
Patterns
- along the ridge
- a ridge of hills
- the ridge of a mountain
We hiked along the ridge until we could see the sea.
Clouds gathered over the ridge behind the village.
A narrow ridge separates the two valleys.
nouncountable
A raised line on a surface, such as the top edge of a roof or a strip on a texture.
Grammar: Used for small raised lines: the ridge of the roof, ridges on the fabric.
Patterns
- the ridge of a roof
- ridges on something
A row of tiles covers the ridge of the roof.
The corduroy had thick ridges that ran down each leg.
Run your finger over the ridges on the coin.
nouncountabletechnical
In weather reports, a long area of high air pressure that brings dry, settled conditions.
Grammar: Common in forecasts: a ridge of high pressure.
Patterns
- a ridge of high pressure
A ridge of high pressure will bring sunshine to the south.
The ridge moved east and the rain returned.
Forecasters expect the ridge to hold until Friday.
Word forms
| plural | ridges |
|---|
Common combinations
- a mountain ridge
- The path follows a mountain ridge for several miles.
- along the ridge
- Hikers walked along the ridge at dawn.
- ridge of high pressure
- A ridge of high pressure is building over the country.
- a narrow ridge
- We crossed a narrow ridge with steep drops on both sides.
- roof ridge
- The roof ridge needed new tiles after the storm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- crest
- Crest is the very top line of a hill or wave, while ridge is the whole elongated formation.
- hogback
- Hogback is a narrower, more specialist term for a sharp ridge with steep sides.
- rib
- Rib suggests a thinner raised line on a surface rather than a landform.
- edge
- Edge is general and does not imply a long raised strip.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ridge or bridge?
ridge vs bridge
Bridge crosses over a gap, while ridge is a raised strip of land; they sound alike but differ in the first letter.
Practice
The weather forecaster said a ___ of high pressure would bring several dry days.
Choose one answer.
A ridge of high pressure is the standard phrase. A trough means low pressure, so it would bring the opposite weather.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ridge”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.