noun
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an area of grassland, often used for hay or for grazing of animals
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a low-lying piece of grassland, often boggy and near a river
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of meadow
before 1000; Middle English medwe, Old English mǣdw-, oblique stem of mǣd mead 2; akin to German Matte
Explanation
The noun meadow is another word for a hayfield, but offers a much more picturesque view as an open field of lush grass filled with butterflies and birds, with room to run. It can also refer to a piece of land found along a river. The word meadow refers to any grassland or hayfield, often just an expansive area that should be mowed. Indeed, the word comes from the Old English word mæd from the Germanic mædwon the base of which means “mow.” Still, the bucolic feeling is retained, as Dale Carnegie put it: “Let us not get so busy or live so fast that we can't listen to the music of the meadow or the symphony that glorifies the forest."
Vocabulary lists containing meadow
Beowulf vocabulary
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"The Wife of Bath's Tale," Vocabulary from the narrative poem
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List 6
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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.
See Examples For:
His farm in a meadow close by the village of Sofiytsi in southern Bulgaria backs onto the wooded slopes of the mountain range associated with the mythological musician Orpheus.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
The wildflower meadow along the edges of the village green has been a particular highlight.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
But there’s plenty of drama also in the everyday lives of flowers, their interactions with crafty insects and hungry birds, with neighbors in the meadow or the forest, with fungal networks in the ground.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
Other impressive features on the grounds include a saltwater pool; vegetable gardens; a wildflower meadow; an orchard of cherry, apple, and peach trees; and a sports court—ideal for Paul’s training.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 8, 2026
An old man with white hair walked into the meadow.
From "The Missing Mitt (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #2)" by Franklin W. Dixon
On the island’s extensive bike-path network, you’ll pass through wetlands, ponds and open meadows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
Standing outdoors in all weathers, he painted hundreds of scenes of lush meadows and roadside verges.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
"A lot of our meadows don't have any fertiliser on any more."
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
Space4Nature said it had also restored more than 60 hectares of pollinator habitat at 22 sites across Surrey, including wildflower meadows, heathlands, wetlands and hedgerows.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
As the title promised, the volume was lavishly illustrated with thumbnail-sized watercolor paintings, most of which depicted wildflower meadows and snowcapped mountain peaks.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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.
