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owlish

American  
[ou-lish] / ˈaʊ lɪʃ /

adjective

  1. resembling or characteristic of an owl.

    His thick glasses give him an owlish appearance.


owlish British  
/ ˈaʊlɪʃ /

adjective

  1. like an owl

  2. solemn and wise in appearance

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of owlish

First recorded in 1605–15; owl + -ish 1

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:

A 1972 shot sees two couples on a bird-watching expedition with binoculars held to their eyes, appearing owlish themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 20, 2026

With his owlish orange glasses and mincing theatrical manners, Cera seems custom-designed for Anderson’s style.

From Los Angeles Times May 29, 2025

For many, the owlish but hard-driving Socialist and Catholic was simply “Mr. Europe.”

From Seattle Times Dec. 27, 2023

Short and thick-bodied, dressed in a bespoke suit and round, owlish glasses, Leo looked like a character from an Agatha Christie mystery.

From Salon Oct. 12, 2023

He’s in his midfifties, thinning hair, owlish eyes that radiate intelligence.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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