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Synonyms

owl

American  
[oul] / aʊl /

noun

  1. any of numerous, chiefly nocturnal birds of prey, of the order Strigiformes, having a broad head with large, forward-directed eyes that are usually surrounded by disks of modified feathers: many populations are diminishing owing to loss of habitat.

  2. one of a breed of domestic pigeons having an owllike appearance.

  3. night owl.

  4. a person of owllike solemnity or appearance.

adjective

  1. operating late at night or all night.

    an owl train.
owl British  
/ aʊl /

noun

  1. any nocturnal bird of prey of the order Strigiformes, having large front-facing eyes, a small hooked bill, soft feathers, and a short neck

  2. any of various breeds of owl-like fancy domestic pigeon (esp the African owl, Chinese owl, and English owl )

  3. a person who looks or behaves like an owl, esp in having a solemn manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
owl Idioms  

  1. see night owl.

Other Word Forms

  • owl-like adjective
  • owllike adjective

Etymology

Origin of owl

before 900; Middle English oule, Old English ūle; cognate with Low German ūle, Dutch uil; akin to German Eule, Old Norse ugla

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He could hear crickets and the hoot of an owl, and from the room inside, the soft snores of a family who would be relieved in the morning when he wasn’t there.

From Literature

I’m a night owl, so on a Sunday especially, I’m going to let myself sleep in.

From Los Angeles Times

"I'm a bit lost," McRae tells a computer-animated white owl in the video, asking for directions to Milan to meet Team USA at the opening ceremony.

From BBC

The third book in the series, which was announced in April last year, will see the return of the fox, snake, owl and of course, the courageous mouse.

From BBC

Duolingo is also planning a larger marketing campaign tied to Bad Bunny’s halftime appearance; the company’s famous owl mascot was recently spotted dressed as the singer in the New York City subway.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.