sandy
SAN-dee
Sandy (adj) means Covered in, containing, or made up of sand. Example: “The path became sandy near the dunes, and walking slowed down.”
adj
1
Covered in, containing, or made up of sand.
"The path became sandy near the dunes, and walking slowed down."
"The kids ran barefoot across the sandy beach."
"His shoes were still sandy from the walk along the shore."
2
Having a light yellowish-brown colour, like sand.
"The puppy had soft, sandy fur that matched the colour of the beach."
"They painted the hallway a warm sandy shade to make it brighter."
"She has sandy blonde hair."
How to use sandy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCovered with sand, or coloured like sand.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the common adjective with the given name Sandy, a nickname for Alexander or Sandra.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sandy beach
sandy soil
sandy hair
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Word forms
- Comparative
- sandier
- Superlative
- sandiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The path became _____ near the dunes, and walking slowed down.
Etymology
From Old English sandiġ, simply "sand" plus the adjective ending "-y".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sandy
See all rhymes for sandy →Frequently asked questions
What does “sandy” mean?
The word “sandy” means covered in, containing, or made up of sand. In plain terms, covered with sand, or coloured like sand.
How do you pronounce “sandy”?
“Sandy” is pronounced SAN-dee (/ˈsændi/ in IPA).
How do you use “sandy” in a sentence?
Here is “sandy” used in a sentence: “The kids ran barefoot across the sandy beach.”
What part of speech is “sandy”?
“Sandy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sandy” come from?
The word “sandy” comes from Old English. From Old English sandiġ, simply "sand" plus the adjective ending "-y".
Is “sandy” a common word?
“Sandy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “sandy” have?
“Sandy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in, containing, or made up of sand.
What is the difference between "sandy" and "gritty"?
"Sandy" describes something covered in, containing, or made of sand, such as a sandy beach. "Gritty" refers to a rough texture from small hard particles generally, so a surface can be gritty without being specifically sandy.
How is "sandy" used to describe colour?
"Sandy" can describe a light yellowish-brown colour, like the shade of sand, often applied to hair, as in "sandy hair." In this sense it names a soft, pale golden tone rather than the material itself.
What nouns commonly go with "sandy"?
"Sandy" frequently pairs with beach, soil, shore, and hair. It works both literally, describing ground full of sand, and descriptively, naming a light yellowish-brown colour.
