Himalayas

American

[him-uh-lay-uhz, hi-mahl-yuhz] / ˌhɪm əˈleɪ əz, hɪˈmɑl jəz /

plural noun

the Himalayas, a mountain range extending about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) along the border between India and Tibet. Highest peak, Mt. Everest, 29,028 feet (8,848 meters).

Himalayas British

/ ˌhɪməˈleɪəz, hɪˈmɑːljəz /

plural noun

a vast mountain system in S Asia, extending 2400 km (1500 miles) from Kashmir (west) to Assam (east), between the valleys of the Rivers Indus and Brahmaputra: covers most of Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and the S edge of Tibet; the highest range in the world, with several peaks over 7500 m (25 000 ft). Highest peak: Mount Everest, 8848 m (29 028 ft)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Himalayas Cultural

Mountain range in Asia, extending east through Pakistan, India, China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan.

Discover More

The Himalayas contain the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of Himalayas

First recorded in 1835–40; from Sanskrit Himālaya, equivalent to hima “snow” + ālaya “dwelling, abode” + -s ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

Himalayas

But the narrative shifts dramatically when Morrison and Nelson, a romantic couple attempting a training climb and downhill ski in the Himalayas, experience an avalanche on the eighth-highest mountain in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

An elite climber stands atop a summit in the Himalayas after a tough ascent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

The director immediately flew to the Himalayas to help.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Such disasters can sweep across national boundaries, threatening lives, infrastructure and livelihoods far downstream - making co-operation between the countries sharing the Himalayas increasingly important.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026