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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.

In the case of the northern spotted owl, exemptions were initially granted for timber sales in Oregon but later withdrawn due to legal challenges and procedural violations.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Long after the owl, hutia, and possibly even the bees had disappeared, paleontologists uncovered this unusual record preserved in stone.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

One owl was found napping – in an antiques store.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

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 • Feb. 6, 2026

Then the poking stopped and the owl scrabbled about on the rock, staring into the night with unfathoming eyes.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

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.