Phrase guide

sunlit uplands

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌsʌnlɪt ˈʌpləndz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌsʌnlɪt ˈʌpləndz/
  • General-American: /-ˈəp-/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A wished-for place or time of happiness and prosperity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, figuratively, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sunny uplands

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From sunlit (“illuminated by sunlight”) + uplands (“areas in the interior of a country with a generally higher elevation”) (evoking a pleasant, happy place), popularized by its use in the “This was their finest hour” speech delivered by Winston Churchill (1874–1965), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to the House of Commons on 18 June 1940: see the quotation.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: pożądane miejsce — wished-for place or time of happiness and prosperity