Illustration of arrow
- arrow 1
plural arrows
1
: a missile shot from a bow and usually having a slender shaft, a pointed head, and feathers at the butt
2
: something shaped like an arrow
especially
: a mark (as on a map or signboard) to indicate direction
3
: a painful or damaging experience or occurrence that is likened to being shot with an arrow
… to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune …—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
arrowed; arrowing; arrows
1
a
intransitive
: to move fast and straight like an arrow in flight
Just below us, a hunting peregrine falcon arrowed across the sere fields …—Tom Mueller
Tom Mueller
b
transitive
: to hit or throw (something) toward a target fast and straight like an arrow
Mia Hamm … doesn't even look up as she arrows a pass to her teammate with almost telepathic confidence.—David Hirshey
David Hirshey2
transitive
chiefly US
: to shoot (an animal) with an arrow
In the spring, only boy turkeys can be shot or arrowed.—Fred LeBrun
Fred LeBrunExamples of arrow in a Sentence
Noun
The arrow on the map points north.
Recent Examples on the WebAaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Desire for arrow keys has also led to violence against carriers.
—Nick Devlin, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2024
Someone saw the arrow stuck in the animal and called Pasadena Humane, the nonprofit said in a March 28 Facebook post.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
The keys include top-row brightness, volume, and microphone mute controls, along with dedicated Home and End keys (though Page Up and Page Down are relegated to the Fn key plus up and down arrows).
—PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
Most filters feature arrow markings that indicate the correct placement; these arrows should typically point toward the furnace in the direction of the airflow.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024
The map is a clickable scattering of dead shoemakers, Welshmen felled by arrows, and one case of a guy trying to join a choir, by force, after midnight, with a sword and being struck with a sparth, or battle-axe.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024
Veterinarians removed the arrow, which missed the animal’s lungs and vital organs, and closed up the wounds, the group said.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
Benioff tells me that his friend recently took up hunting with a bow and arrow.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2023
Virginia bowhunter Earl Phillips was elated to arrow his biggest buck to date on Nov. 20, a fine 8-point buck…that had no visible male organs.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 16 Jan. 2023
According to the researchers, the embryo does not attach to the mother’s uterus and continue growth until the mother switches to arrow bamboo leaves, at which point the calcium intake is the highest.
—Brenda Poppy, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2014
The Launch's default look is subdued, but the board comes with blue and red Esc and arrow keys for extra pop.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 8 Mar. 2022
Kate came to the bow and arrow on her own, though Clint's years of experience are still a benefit.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 3 Nov. 2021
In Bears Ears -- named for the twin buttes that rise above the landscape -- tourists and looters routinely steal ceramic shards, arrow heads and other remnants of the settlements of the Ancestral Puebloan Indians who lived in the area.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2021
Meanwhile, Katurah plays the help, who is readying weapons, from knives to bow and arrow to guns and RPGs in between skits.
—Rohan Preston, Star Tribune, 8 July 2021
Video captured McCormick in an argument with some protesters, and showed him getting a bow and arrow out of his car and pointing it at several people.
—Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Nov. 2020
Noun
After a long battle, Rama kills Ravana with an arrow to the chest.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Desire for arrow keys has also led to violence against carriers.
—Nick Devlin, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2024
Someone saw the arrow stuck in the animal and called Pasadena Humane, the nonprofit said in a March 28 Facebook post.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
The keys include top-row brightness, volume, and microphone mute controls, along with dedicated Home and End keys (though Page Up and Page Down are relegated to the Fn key plus up and down arrows).
—PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
Most filters feature arrow markings that indicate the correct placement; these arrows should typically point toward the furnace in the direction of the airflow.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024
The map is a clickable scattering of dead shoemakers, Welshmen felled by arrows, and one case of a guy trying to join a choir, by force, after midnight, with a sword and being struck with a sparth, or battle-axe.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024
Veterinarians removed the arrow, which missed the animal’s lungs and vital organs, and closed up the wounds, the group said.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
Benioff tells me that his friend recently took up hunting with a bow and arrow.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
While still relying on the brand's key Flying D logo, the 2023 FX highlights arrow graphics on the frame, meant to indicate the power concentration in the middle of the racket.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2023
Virginia bowhunter Earl Phillips was elated to arrow his biggest buck to date on Nov. 20, a fine 8-point buck…that had no visible male organs.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 16 Jan. 2023
According to the researchers, the embryo does not attach to the mother’s uterus and continue growth until the mother switches to arrow bamboo leaves, at which point the calcium intake is the highest.
—Brenda Poppy, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2014
The Launch's default look is subdued, but the board comes with blue and red Esc and arrow keys for extra pop.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 8 Mar. 2022
Kate came to the bow and arrow on her own, though Clint's years of experience are still a benefit.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 3 Nov. 2021
In Bears Ears -- named for the twin buttes that rise above the landscape -- tourists and looters routinely steal ceramic shards, arrow heads and other remnants of the settlements of the Ancestral Puebloan Indians who lived in the area.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2021
Meanwhile, Katurah plays the help, who is readying weapons, from knives to bow and arrow to guns and RPGs in between skits.
—Rohan Preston, Star Tribune, 8 July 2021
Video captured McCormick in an argument with some protesters, and showed him getting a bow and arrow out of his car and pointing it at several people.
—Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Nov. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near arrow
Cite this Entry
“Arrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrow. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share