: any of an order (Strigiformes) of chiefly nocturnal birds of prey with a large head and eyes, short hooked bill, strong talons, and soft fluffy often brown-mottled plumage

Examples of owl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The taxidermy mounts in the visitor center — which include a bear, a mountain lion, a red fox, a porcupine, a great horned owl and a rattlesnake — all are wearing party hats. John Meyer, Denver Post, 19 June 2025 Aerial predators like great horned owls are less common, but possible. Anne Readel, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025 The bottle designs for this year’s collection are said to be inspired by a few different animals that are native to Mexico: axolotl, jaguar, monarch butterfly, dwarf jay, Tamaulipas owl, and the Mexican wolf. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 June 2025 The water buffalos are nearly extinct in our yard, although foxes, coyotes, bobcats, possums, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, hawks, owls, and an occasional camel, roam freely. Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for owl

Word History

Etymology

Middle English owle, from Old English ūle; akin to Old High German uwila owl

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of owl was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/owl. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

owl

noun
: any of an order of birds of prey that are active mainly at night and that have a broad head, very large eyes, and a powerful hooked beak and claws

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