island
EYE-luhnd
Island (noun) means a piece of land completely surrounded by water. Example: “Tourists can only reach the island by boat.”
noun
1
A piece of land completely surrounded by water.
"Tourists can only reach the island by boat."
"They spent their honeymoon on a small island in the Caribbean."
"The ferry runs twice a day to the island."
2
Something that is isolated or set apart, resembling an island figuratively.
"The small cafe was an island of quiet in the busy shopping centre."
"For the lonely child, the library was an island of safety."
"His desk was an island of calm in the chaotic office."
verb
1
To cut off or isolate, as if surrounding with water.
"The snowstorm islanded the village from the rest of the valley."
"Rising water islanded the old church in the middle of the field."
"The flood islanded several farmhouses for days."
How to use island
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA patch of land with water all around it.
Common mistake
The "s" in island is silent — it's pronounced "EYE-land," and the spelling is historically unrelated to "isle" despite looking similar.
Common pairings
a desert island
an island chain
live on an island
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- islands
- Past tense
- islanded
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Tourists can only reach the _____ by boat.
Etymology
From Old English igland, from ieg ("island, water-land") plus land. The "s" was added in the 1500s by mistake, when spellers wrongly linked it to the unrelated French-derived word "isle."
Class of 1500
island joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “island” mean?
The word “island” means a piece of land completely surrounded by water. In plain terms, a patch of land with water all around it.
How do you pronounce “island”?
“Island” is pronounced EYE-luhnd (/ˈaɪlənd/ in IPA).
How do you use “island” in a sentence?
Here is “island” used in a sentence: “They spent their honeymoon on a small island in the Caribbean.”
What is another word for “island”?
Words with a similar meaning to “island” include isle.
What part of speech is “island”?
Depending on how it is used, “island” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “island” come from?
The word “island” dates back to around 1500 and comes from French. From Old English igland, from ieg ("island, water-land") plus land. The "s" was added in the 1500s by mistake, when spellers wrongly linked it to the unrelated French-derived word "isle.".
Is “island” a common word?
“Island” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “island” have?
“Island” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of land completely surrounded by water.
What is the difference between an island and a peninsula?
An island is land completely surrounded by water on every side. A peninsula is surrounded by water on most sides but still joined to a larger landmass by a narrow strip. In short, an island stands alone in the water, while a peninsula remains attached to the mainland.
What is the difference between an island and a continent?
Both are land surrounded by water, and the distinction is mainly one of size and geology. Continents are the largest landmasses, like Africa or Asia, while islands are smaller. Greenland, the biggest island, is far smaller than Australia, which is classed as a continent. There is no exact size cut-off.
What are the types of islands?
Geographers recognise several kinds. Continental islands sit on a continent's shelf, oceanic islands rise from the sea floor, and volcanic islands form from erupting undersea volcanoes. Coral islands and atolls are built by reef-forming organisms, and there are also river and lake islands. All are surrounded by water.
What is the largest island in the world?
Greenland is generally regarded as the world's largest island, covering about 2.2 million square kilometres. Australia is bigger but is classed as a continent rather than an island. After Greenland, the largest islands include New Guinea and Borneo. Size is what separates a large island from a small continent.
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