meadow

noun

mead·​ow ˈme-(ˌ)dō 

often attributive

: land that is covered or mostly covered with grass

wildflowers blooming in the meadow

especially : a tract of moist low-lying usually level grassland

meadowy

ˈme-də-wē 

adjective

Examples of meadow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Spring brings wildflowers to the mountain, while summer fills its alpine meadows with flowering herbs like oregano and thyme. — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

The edge of meadows or fields containing goldenrod and abutting heavier cover is especially productive, so long as there is some protective canopy. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026

Cows amble in the distance along the inclines of meadows; their grazing helps control invasive plants. — Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

The 92-mile Chinook Scenic Byway skirts the northeastern side of Mount Rainier with glacier views, waterfalls, alpine meadows, and a 5,430-foot mountain pass. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English medwe, medowe "grassland kept for hay, pasture field," going back to Old English mǣdwe, oblique singular case form of mǣd, going back to West Germanic *mēdwō- (whence also Old Frisian mēde "pasture, meadow," Middle Dutch māde, mēde), noun derivative from the verbal base *mē- "reap, mow" — more at mow entry 2

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing meadow

• meadow beauty
• meadow fescue
• meadow grass
• meadow mushroom
• meadow nematode
• meadow rue
• meadow saffron
• meadow spittlebug
• meadow vole
• water meadow

Rhymes for meadow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

meadow

noun

mead·​ow ˈmed-ō 

: an area of moist low usually level grassland