Dunsinane

American  

[duhn-suh-neyn, duhn-suh-neyn] / ˈdʌn səˌneɪn, ˌdʌn səˈneɪn /

noun

1. a hill NE of Perth, in central Scotland: a ruined fort on its summit is traditionally called Macbeth's Castle. 1,012 feet (308 meters).

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Dunsinane British  

/ dʌnˈsɪnən /

noun

1. a hill in central Scotland, in the Sidlaw Hills: the ruined fort at its summit is regarded as Macbeth's castle. Height: 308 m (1012 ft)

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Usage

The pronunciation ˈdʌnsɪˌneɪn is used in Shakespeare's Macbeth for the purposes of rhyme

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dunsinane

Yet the formidable English army of kinsman Malcolm, rightful heir to murdered King Duncan, approached Dunsinane using branches from Birnam Wood as camouflage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Catton’s title is from Shakespeare: “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.”

From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2023

The condo creep visible from her Brooklyn home is, in her analogy, like Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2022

On any given night, in the houses that Michael Kahn built, you could find yourself transported to Illyria or Bohemia, to Dunsinane or Athens.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 17, 2017

When he finally stood in front of me, he held my hand tight and said, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.”

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah