1
: enduring injury with patience and without resentment : mild
a meek child dominated by his brothers
2
: deficient in spirit and courage : submissive
"I don't care," came the meek replyAnnetta Miller
3
: not violent or strong : moderate
his delivery varied from a meek, melodic patter to rapid-fire scriptural allusionsBob Trebilcock
meekly adverb

Examples of meek in a Sentence

a meek child dominated by his brothers She may seem meek and mild but it is all an act.
Recent Examples on the Web The spiritual role of the Caliph was still occupied by Abdulmejid II, a meek Ottoman scion who liked to paint and collect butterflies and would soon be forced into exile along with his immediate family. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Also among the action are Sam, a wise local doctor who works and plays too hard, and Delia, a meek, young neighbor fighting hard to open a family planning clinic in Harlem. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2024 In a similar fashion, Thornton sheds her P-Valley persona for a more meek and docile character as Mea’s close friend. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 26 Feb. 2024 Barrino is both meek and powerful as Celie, a woman who silently endures her husband Mister’s abuse and tyrannical rule of their household until jazz singer Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson) opens her eyes to the possibilities of a life filled with love. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2023 This is a particularly awkward one, but Pen portrays herself as this meek wallflower. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2023 Backstory The 2023 van line patterns suggest the recent meek improvement in California’s broader outmigration challenges could be over. Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2024 Wayne is rather meek and mild, but his mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is very domineering. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2023 Mammals bit back at dinosaurs Mammals were not the meek underdogs of the Mesozoic world that they’ve often been characterized as. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meek.' 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, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse mjūkr gentle; akin to Welsh esmwyth soft

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meek was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near meek

Cite this Entry

“Meek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meek. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

meek

adjective
1
: putting up with wrongs patiently and without complaint : mild
2
: lacking spirit or self-assurance : humble
meekly adverb
meekness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on meek

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