grassy

IPA/ˈɡrɑːsi/
KK[ɡrˈæsi]IPA/ˈɡræsi/

grassy — adjective

  • grassypositive
  • grassiercomparative
  • grassiestsuperlative

1. having grass growing all over its surface, so that the ground looks green and na

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

having grass growing all over its surface, so that the ground looks green and natural rather than bare or built on

Example

Children played on the grassy hill behind their school every afternoon.

attributive: grassy + noun describing a place

Naoko's garden is grassy and full of wildflowers in the spring.

predicative: is + grassy

Common collocations
  • grassy hill
  • grassy field
  • grassy area
  • grassy slope
  • grassy bank
  • grassy spot
  • grassy path
Synonyms
  • verdant

    more formal and literary; suggests lush, rich green growth

  • green

    broader in meaning — can describe colour rather than actual grass cover

Antonyms
  • bare

    describes ground with no plant growth at all

  • barren

    more extreme — suggests the land cannot support grass or other plants

Grammar Patterns

grassy + noun

be + grassy

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe land with plant growth, but they differ in emphasis. Grassy focuses specifically on grass covering the ground — it tells you what the surface is made of, not just its colour. Green is the broadest term: it can describe grass, trees, leaves, or even a general look (e.g. 'green hills'), so it is less precise. Verdant is a more formal and poetic word that emphasises rich, healthy vegetation — you would use it in nature writing rather than everyday speech. Lush stresses thickness and abundance: a 'lush lawn' has very dense, healthy grass, whereas a 'grassy field' could be thin or patchy. For everyday descriptions of a grass-covered surface, grassy is the most direct and practical choice.

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • lightly grassed
  • thickly grassed

Phrases

  • grassy and green
  • grassy or bare
  • soft and grassy

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Grassy comes from the Old English word græs, meaning 'grass', with the suffix -y added to mean 'covered with' or 'full of'. English has used this combination since the Middle Ages to describe land that is naturally covered in grass rather than bare or cultivated.