forest

American  

[fawr-ist, for-] / ˈfɔr ɪst, ˈfɒr- /

noun

1. a large tract of land covered with trees and underbrush; woodland.

2. the trees on such a tract.

   to cut down a forest.

3. a tract of wooded grounds in England formerly belonging to the sovereign and set apart for game.

4. a thick cluster of vertical objects.

   a forest of church spires.

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verb (used with object)

1. to supply or cover with trees; convert into a forest.

forest British  

/ fəˈrɛstɪəl, ˈfɒrɪst /

noun

1. a large wooded area having a thick growth of trees and plants

2. the trees of such an area

3. an area planted with exotic pines or similar trees Compare bush 1

4. something resembling a large wooded area, esp in density

   a forest of telegraph poles

5. law (formerly) an area of woodland, esp one owned by the sovereign and set apart as a hunting ground with its own laws and officers Compare park

6. (modifier) of, involving, or living in a forest or forests

   a forest glade

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verb

1. (tr) to create a forest (in); plant with trees

forest Scientific  

/ fôr′ĭst /

1. A growth of trees covering a large area. Forests exist in all regions of the Earth except for regions of extreme cold or dryness.

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forest Idioms  

1. see can't see the forest for the trees.

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Usage

What does forest mean? A forest is a large area of land that’s covered in trees. The word forest can also refer collectively to those trees. An area that’s covered in trees can be described with the adjective forested. Less commonly, forest can be used as a verb meaning to cover an area with trees. This sense of the word is used in the terms deforestation (the clearing of a forested area) and reforesting (planting trees in a woodland that has been deforested or destroyed by a forest fire). Sometimes, forest is used in a figurative way to refer to a collection of vertical objects clustered together, as in Many of these new cities look like forests of skyscrapers. Example: We were deep in the forest, with no roads or buildings for miles.

Related Words

Forest, grove, wood refer to an area covered with trees. A forest is an extensive area, preserving some or all of its primitive wildness and usually having game or wild animals in it: Sherwood Forest; the Black Forest. A grove is a group or cluster of trees, usually not very large in area and cleared of underbrush. It is usually tended or cultivated: a shady grove; a grove of pines; an orange grove; a walnut grove. Woods (or a wood ) resembles a forest but is a smaller tract of land, less wild in character, and generally closer to civilization: lost in the woods; a wood covering several acres.

Other Word Forms

• forest-like adjective
• forestal adjective
• forested adjective
• forestial adjective
• forestless adjective
• forestlike adjective
• nonforest noun
• nonforested adjective
• unforested adjective
• well-forested adjective

Etymology

Origin of forest

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin forestis (silva) “an unenclosed wood” (as opposed to a park), derivative of Latin forīs “outside.” Cf. foreign

Explanation

A forest is a densely wooded area, or land covered with trees and shrubs. As a verb it means to establish a forest where none existed before. Famous forests include the Sherwood Forest of Nottinghamshire, England, associated with legend of Robin Hood; the Black Forest of southwestern Germany, so named because it's so dense that very little light enters it; the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil (and 8 other countries of South America); and the forests that make up the Redwood National and State Parks of California, where you can find the tallest trees on earth.

Example Sentences

In experiments tied to a study in the Journal of Economic Entomology, the team used pinene, a pleasant-smelling compound released by forest trees, to make the insects move toward treated wood.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

Meieran has tried elaborate themed environments, such as a tiki bar and forest playgrounds, and renting out the location for big events to spark more interest.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Ms. Simard’s own forebears worked the Canadian forests in this manner, which has the virtue of leaving lots of organic material behind while going easy on the springy, carbon-rich forest floor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"He went from an outdoor, forest school kid to someone who now needs a wheelchair to go longer distances," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

The forest ripped past Clare in a crimson smear, his reeling mind taking a beat too long to reach the horrid realization: The hour had struck midnight.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• jungle
• park
• thicket
• timber
• wood
• woodland