meadow

noun

mead·​ow ˈme-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce meadow (audio)
often attributive
: land that is covered or mostly covered with grass
wildflowers blooming in the meadow
especially : a tract of moist low-lying usually level grassland
meadowy adjective

Examples of meadow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Here, the Green Mountains provide a backdrop that's almost as calming as the bucolic meadows the property calls home. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 Teeming with life, the preserve lets hikers admire vast meadows and tall oak trees, a pond with water fowl and even cows munching on grass alongside the roughly 3-mile loop trail. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2024 Most mornings, the sun would start its appearance by sending up rosy fingers of cloud, the soft light filtering through the trees to reveal a herd of fat deer in the meadow that surrounds the cabin on three sides. Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Relax under the shady trees of a grove edged with butterfly gardens, or toss Frisbees in the meadow. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The characteristic meadow and forest landscape of the Texas Hill Country, shown here near the centerline, lies under the eclipse track. Jay Anderson, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 Hikers more interested in their immediate surroundings won’t be disappointed, though: the Laguna Mountains feature shady oak and pine forests, open meadows and the sparkling Big Laguna Lake. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2024 First tracks at Vail and nearby Beaver Creek can be arranged for guests, as can excursions into the area’s famed back bowls and Alpine meadows. Stacey Lastoe, Robb Report, 28 Dec. 2023 That doesn't deliver the magic of stalking a skittish deer (or massive troll) in Valheim's meadows, and hoping that your first shot is aimed true. Chris Stobing, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meadow.' 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

Middle English medwe, medowe "grassland kept for hay, pasture field," going back to Old English mǣdwe, oblique singular case form of mǣd, going back to West Germanic *mēdwō- (whence also Old Frisian mēde "pasture, meadow," Middle Dutch māde, mēde), noun derivative from the verbal base *mē- "reap, mow" — more at mow entry 2

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meadow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near meadow

Cite this Entry

“Meadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meadow. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

meadow

noun
mead·​ow ˈmed-ō How to pronounce meadow (audio)
: an area of moist low usually level grassland
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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