Quick Scoop

A **gulch** is a **narrow, steep-sided valley or ravine** , usually formed by running water over time. In everyday American English, it’s often used for a small, rugged cut in the land, sometimes with a stream or dry creek bed at the bottom.

In simple terms

  • Think: a deeper, narrower version of a gully.
  • Often found: in hilly or mountainous areas.
  • Can be dry or have water: some gulches carry a stream, while others are dry most of the time.

Example

After the storm, water rushed through the gulch.

Word note

The word is especially common in **North American English** , and some dictionaries note it’s a chief or especially US usage.

Meta description: A gulch is a narrow, steep-sided ravine or valley, usually carved by water, similar to but larger than a gully.

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TL;DR: A gulch is a small, steep-sided ravine or valley formed by erosion, often by flowing water.

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