mow

¹ American  

[moh] / moʊ /

verb (used with object)

mowed, mowed, mown, mowing

1. to cut down (grass, grain, etc.) with a scythe or a machine.

2. to cut grass, grain, etc., from.

   to mow the lawn.

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verb (used without object)

mowed, mowed, mown, mowing

1. to cut down grass, grain, etc.

verb phrase

1. mow down

   1. to destroy or kill indiscriminately or in great numbers, as troops in battle.

   2. to defeat, overwhelm, or overcome.

      The team mowed down its first four opponents.

   3. to knock down.

mow ² American  

[mou] / maʊ /

noun

1. a heap or pile of hay or of sheaves of grain in a barn.

2. the place in a barn where hay, sheaves of grain, etc., are stored.

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verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S. to store (hay) in a barn.

mow ³ American  

[mou, moh] / maʊ, moʊ /

Or mowe

noun

1. a wry or derisive grimace.

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verb (used without object)

mowed, mowing

1. to make mows, mouths, or grimaces.

mow ¹ British  

/ məʊ /

verb

1. to cut down (grass, crops, etc) with a hand implement or machine

2. (tr) to cut the growing vegetation of (a field, lawn, etc)

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mow ² British  

/ maʊ /

noun

1. the part of a barn where hay, straw, etc, is stored

2. the hay, straw, etc, stored

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mow ³ British  

/ maʊ /

noun

1. an archaic word for grimace

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Other Word Forms

• mower noun

Etymology

Origin of mow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mowen, mouwen “to stack hay or grain,” Old English māwan “to mow;” cognate with Old Frisian mīa, German mähen

Origin of mow²

First recorded before 900; Middle English mow(e), mou, moghe, Old English mūga, mūha, mūwa “a heap or stack of grain”; cognate with Old Norse mūgi “swath”

Origin of mow³

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English moue, mouwe, mouhe, from Middle French moue “lip, pout,” Old French möe, from Frankish; akin to Middle Dutch mouwe “protruding lip”

Example Sentences

In exchange, "they don't have to mow as often", to ensure the panels function properly, but also, and more importantly, to comply with bushfire prevention regulations.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

So for now, the robots being rolled out in cities are friendly and low-profile—they mow lawns, clean beaches and guide people through buildings, among other things.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

If you don’t mow your lawn, the city will give you a notice, and then mow it for you, attaching the cost to your water bill.

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2025

“Roseanne also drives the tractor often, which allows her to mow the lawn. She drives around. She occasionally runs into trees, but just keeps the yard up.”

From MarketWatch • Oct. 15, 2025

“Don’t you dare mow this, mister,” she ordered, and aimed her pointer finger at my throbbing nose.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos

Related Words

• shear
• trim