noun
Common
woods
wuudz
Woods (noun) means a group of trees covering an area smaller than a forest; a small wooded area. Example: “We went for a hike through the woods behind our house.”
noun
1
A group of trees covering an area smaller than a forest; a small wooded area.
"These woods are part of the Campbell property."
"Night after night, we both had similar dreams that our daughter was wandering around in a woods."
— James Preston Hardison, Miracles on the Poke-A-No (2009)
"We went for a hike through the woods behind our house."
"A path led straight into the woods."
"The children built a den in the woods near the river."
"It is a crop, like a crop of corn, which differs from a natural field of grasses in the way that a crop of trees differs from a woods."
— Robert McGowan, Current: Essays on the Passing of Time in the Woods (2013)
How to use woods
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA patch of trees, usually smaller than what you'd call a forest.
Common pairings
a walk in the woods
lost in the woods
deep in the woods
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Word forms
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We went for a hike through the _____ behind our house.
Etymology
The plural of "wood," used in the same sense of a tree-covered area.
Related words
Rhymes for woods
See all rhymes for woods →Frequently asked questions
What does “woods” mean?
The word “woods” means a group of trees covering an area smaller than a forest; a small wooded area. In plain terms, a patch of trees, usually smaller than what you'd call a forest.
How do you pronounce “woods”?
“Woods” is pronounced wuudz (/wʊdz/ in IPA).
How do you use “woods” in a sentence?
Here is “woods” used in a sentence: “We went for a hike through the woods behind our house.”
What part of speech is “woods”?
“Woods” is a noun.
Is “woods” a common word?
“Woods” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between woods and a forest?
The main difference is size and density. Woods are a smaller area of trees, often light enough to walk through easily and see across. A forest is larger, denser, and more continuous, with a fuller canopy. There is no exact boundary, but 'forest' always suggests something bigger and wilder than 'woods.'
What is the difference between 'wood' and 'woods'?
'Wood' in the singular usually means the material that trees are made of, or in British English a single small wooded area. 'Woods' in the plural refers to a group of trees or a small forested area, as in 'a walk in the woods.' The plural is common in everyday American speech.
What does 'out of the woods' mean?
It is an idiom meaning past the most difficult or dangerous part of a situation, though not necessarily fully safe yet. It is common in medical and financial contexts, as in 'the patient isn't out of the woods yet.' The image is of finally emerging from a threatening forest.
Is 'woods' singular or plural?
The word looks plural and takes a plural form, but it often refers to a single wooded area and can take either a singular or plural verb. People say both 'the woods are quiet' and 'the woods is nearby.' Either is widely accepted, with the plural verb being more common.
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