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Himalayas

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

plural noun

  1. 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

  1. 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  
  1. 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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"It can happen anywhere in the world but the Himalayas are experiencing adverse impacts due to climate change and anthropogenic activity," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

At least 10 Nepalese climbers who were preparing to lead an expedition in the Himalayas are missing after an avalanche hit a base camp on Sunday morning.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

"The Himalayas are approaching a tipping point, with millions of lives and livelihoods hanging in the balance," said Arushi Chopra, Systemiq's senior director and lead author.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The country has hundreds of projects in development, but those plans are now threatened by growing instability in the Himalayas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“In fact, it’s best not to climb the Himalayas every day,” Arul said.

From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman

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