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
“People loved it because it was like a wildflower meadow in the middle of the city,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
A weedy meadow Full of burdock and daisies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
His landscape featured a crystal blue lake and a meadow dotted with pretty white flowers, with snowcapped peaks in the distance.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
This hike through Yosemite National Park features meadows, wildflowers and epic views.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
She has planted meadows, willows, hedgerows, tussocky grasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
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
Scientists found seagrass meadows affected by excessive nutrients in the water - caused by sewage, fertilisers, manure and industry wastewater - had far fewer and less variety of small invertebrates like crabs, shrimps and snails.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
Exploring the meadows and bogs surrounding the castle, she discovered new insects, species she had never seen.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
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.
