Europe

American  

[yoor-uhp, yur-, yoo-roh-pee, yuh-] / ˈyʊər əp, ˈyɜr-, yʊˈroʊ pi, yə- /

noun

1. a continent in the western part of the landmass lying between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains on the east and the Caucasus Mountains and the Black and Caspian Seas on the southeast. In British usage, Europe sometimes contrasts with England. About 4,017,000 square miles (10,404,000 square kilometers).

2. Classical Mythology. Europa.

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Europe British  

/ ˈjʊərəp /

noun

1. the second smallest continent, forming the W extension of Eurasia: the border with Asia runs from the Urals to the Caspian and the Black Sea. The coastline is generally extremely indented and there are several peninsulas (notably Scandinavia, Italy, and Iberia) and offshore islands (including the British Isles and Iceland). It contains a series of great mountain systems in the south (Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Carpathians, Caucasus), a large central plain, and a N region of lakes and mountains in Scandinavia. Pop: 724 722 000 (2005 est). Area: about 10 400 000 sq km (4 000 000 sq miles)

2. the continent of Europe except for the British Isles

   we're going to Europe for our holiday

3. the European Union

   when did Britain go into Europe?

4. a type of dinghy, designed to be sailed by one person

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Europe Cultural  

1. Continent that is actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pro-Europe
  adjective
• anti-Europe
  adjective

Example Sentences

This is why the nation’s founders instituted religious freedom — they witnessed how Europe was torn apart by wars waged between different flavors of Christianity.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

Predictability and stability are key both to European businesses investing in the U.S. and to American companies investing in Europe, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

For tech stocks, that number is probably even higher, given the lack, particularly in Europe, of domestic alternatives.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

After Barcelona, he visits the Canary Islands on Thursday and Friday where he will focus on immigration as the Atlantic archipelago is a key entry point to Europe for irregular migrants.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Of these, 120 American nurses died in Europe, and 200 were decorated for bravery.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman