jungle

noun

jun·​gle ˈjəŋ-gəl How to pronounce jungle (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: an impenetrable thicket or tangled mass of tropical vegetation
b
: a tract overgrown with thickets or masses of vegetation
2
a(1)
: a confused or disordered mass of objects : jumble
(2)
: something that baffles or frustrates by its tangled or complex character : maze
the jungle of housing lawsBernard Taper
b
: a place of ruthless struggle for survival
the city is a jungle where no one is safe after darkStuart Chase
3
: electronic dance music that combines elements of techno, reggae, and hip-hop and is marked especially by an extremely fast beat
4
: a hobo camp
junglelike adjective
jungly adjective

Examples of jungle in a Sentence

life in the corporate jungle It's hard to succeed in the business world. It's a jungle out there. a jungle of environmental laws
Recent Examples on the Web But just as your eyes begin to glaze over watching Wahlberg and his co-stars sweating and grunting their way across the jungle, someone comes along to save the movie. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 One at a time, a contestant — carrying a sandbag — would be hoisted up in the air to the top of the jungle's tree canopy. Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Marketing materials indicate there’s room for additional development that might include an addition to the existing residence or building a separate structure to create a one-of-a-kind compound immersed in the unspoiled jungle. Mark David, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 Sebastián walked, rather than ran, back into the jungle and then came out with three shirts. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Papaya Playa Project sits within a sustainable boutique hotel right on the sand, blending jungle vibes with funky decor. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 California has what's known as a jungle primary, in which the top two vote-getters regardless of party advance to the general election in November. Nikole Killion, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Robin Williams was running from wild animals in the suburbs long before Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan went exploring in the jungle. Katie Rife, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024 The quaint village of Manzanillo is a Caribbean paradise immersed in the jungle of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge. Roger Sands, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jungle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hindi jaṅgal & Urdu jangal forest, from Sanskrit jaṅgala desert region

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of jungle was in 1776

Dictionary Entries Near jungle

Cite this Entry

“Jungle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jungle. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jungle

noun
jun·​gle ˈjəŋ-gəl How to pronounce jungle (audio)
1
: a thick tangled mass of tropical vegetation
2
: an area overgrown with jungle or other vegetation

More from Merriam-Webster on jungle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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