meow

American  

[mee-ou, myou] / miˈaʊ, myaʊ /

Sometimes miaou,

noun

1. the characteristic sound a cat makes.

2. a spiteful or catty remark.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make the sound of a cat.

2. to make a spiteful or catty remark.

meow British  

/ mjaʊl, mjaʊ, mɪˈaʊl, mɪˈaʊ /

verb

1. (intr) (of a cat) to make a characteristic crying sound

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interjection

1. an imitation of this sound

Etymology

Origin of meow

First recorded in 1870–75; imitative

Example Sentences

Together, these results highlight how domestication shaped the modern cat's voice, turning the meow into a flexible communication tool while leaving the purr as a steady marker of individuality.

From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026

He would eat and then meow to leave.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2025

What is the meaning of a cat’s meow that grows louder and louder?

From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2024

Research has shown that cats meow primarily when in the presence of humans, suggesting that we can’t help but skew the app’s inputs, while some cats rarely vocalize at all.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2023

He lets out a long meow, and then settles in, right against my thigh.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy