noun
Common
ben
behn
Ben (noun) means a mountain or high peak, especially in Scotland or Ireland. Example: “They hiked to the summit of the ben before sunset.”
noun
1
A mountain or high peak, especially in Scotland or Ireland.
"They hiked to the summit of the ben before sunset."
"We climbed the ben in thick mist and saw nothing from the top."
"A snow-capped ben rose behind the quiet loch."
2
Slang for a US $100 bill.
"He peeled a couple of bens off the roll."
"He tucked a crisp ben into his wallet."
"She slipped the waiter a ben as a generous tip."
name
1
A short form of the given name Benjamin.
"Everyone just calls him Ben."
How to use ben
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a short male given name; also Scottish/Irish for a mountain peak, and US slang for a hundred-dollar bill.
Common pairings
climb the ben
a stack of bens
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Word forms
- Plural
- bens
- Comparative
- benner
- Superlative
- benmost
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They hiked to the summit of the _____ before sunset.
Etymology
The mountain sense comes from Scottish Gaelic beinn, "mountain"; the "$100 bill" slang comes from Benjamin Franklin’s portrait on the note.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “ben” mean?
The word “ben” means a mountain or high peak, especially in Scotland or Ireland. In plain terms, most often a short male given name; also Scottish/Irish for a mountain peak, and US slang for a hundred-dollar bill.
How do you pronounce “ben”?
“Ben” is pronounced behn (/bɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “ben” in a sentence?
Here is “ben” used in a sentence: “They hiked to the summit of the ben before sunset.”
What is another word for “ben”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ben” include drumstick tree, horseradish tree and moringa.
What part of speech is “ben”?
Depending on how it is used, “ben” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “ben” come from?
The word “ben” dates back to around 100 and comes from Scottish Gaelic. The mountain sense comes from Scottish Gaelic beinn, "mountain"; the "$100 bill" slang comes from Benjamin Franklin’s portrait on the note.
Is “ben” a common word?
“Ben” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ben” have?
“Ben” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mountain or high peak, especially in Scotland or Ireland.
What does 'ben' mean in Scottish place names?
In Scottish place names, 'ben' means a mountain or high peak. It comes from the Scottish Gaelic word 'beinn'. You see it in names like Ben Nevis and Ben Lomond, where 'ben' identifies the summit and the second word usually describes or names the mountain itself.
What is the difference between a ben and a glen?
A ben is a mountain or peak, while a glen is a valley, often long and narrow, running between hills. The two Gaelic terms describe opposite features of the same landscape — the high ground and the low ground — and both appear widely in Scottish and Irish place names.
What is an example of a ben?
The best-known example is Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands, the highest mountain in the British Isles at 1,345 metres. Other examples include Ben Lomond, Ben Macdui, and Ben Cruachan. In each, 'ben' marks the peak, and the accompanying word gives the mountain its particular name.
Is 'ben' Scottish or Irish?
Both. The word comes from Gaelic, the language family shared by Scotland and Ireland, so it appears in the place names of each. It is most strongly associated with the Scottish Highlands, but Irish peaks such as Ben Bulben carry the same element.
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