as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the coal mine has been lying fallow since the drop in prices made it unprofitable
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fallow
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
20 Feb. 2026
Its 2019 and 2022 editions took place in late fall — a move designed to boost tourism and staycations at downtown hotels on what is typically a fallow November weekend.
—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Apr. 2026
To reduce water use and comply with the groundwater law, Arvin-Edison is starting to buy some farmland and leave the fields fallow.
—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Adjective
Amend the soil and leave it fallow.
—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
20 Feb. 2026
Its 2019 and 2022 editions took place in late fall — a move designed to boost tourism and staycations at downtown hotels on what is typically a fallow November weekend.
—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
A week before the meeting, Whorton spoke to water users near Oakley who are planning for a single cutting of hay before leaving fields fallow.
—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Apr. 2026
To reduce water use and comply with the groundwater law, Arvin-Edison is starting to buy some farmland and leave the fields fallow.
—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow
Adjective
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And inflation, which had bedeviled the United States and much of the global economy during the 1970s, was remarkably dormant during Greenspan’s chairmanship, something many economists had not thought could occur for so long a period.
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Some of the microbes may still exist in a dormant state more than 5,000 years after Ötzi's death, as his body sits at the South Tyrol Museum, the experts said.
Verb
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Destructive winds in Oklahoma Farther west, a nasty line of thunderstorms from the same system raked through western and central Oklahoma after midnight CT Monday morning.
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They might well also be frustrated that Messi stayed on the pitch after his left boot raked the back of Aissa Mandi’s right leg at 1-0.
Adjective
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For a team that began the season with off days coming at a premium, a brief stretch with two open dates is a respite from the wear and tear of a long season.
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His shot diet is already optimized for the league, his frame holds up in physical matchups and his off-ball activity gives coaches a willing piece to weave into screen and handoff actions.
Verb
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The post-op row, however, is proving tough to hoe for a small business owner used to putting in hours well beyond overtime.
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Somebody hoed the soil and discovered this underneath.
Adjective
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For decades, the north campus had no resident population, remaining a collection of vacant deteriorating buildings and residential programs for physical and mental health recovery.
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Then, seven years ago, Cohen snagged a rare vacant plot for sale—modest in scale, at roughly half an acre, but blessed with pristine ocean frontage and perfect for the family escape of his imagination.
Verb
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The Victorian-style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and this side of the resort directly fronting Cape Cod Bay is known collectively as The Mansion.
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Arraez was the only Giants player listed among the top five candidates at a position, or top 10 for outfield, on the update.
Adjective
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That’s 10 years of farming around idle pump jacks and tabulating acres damaged by fluid leaks.
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Standard charging can slow things down if trucks have to sit idle for too long.
Verb
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Before the big race, the track was harrowed, bringing it to a better and drier racing surface.
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The research fellow who met me, Birte, was in her forties, and appeared as if she had been harrowed by her work.
Cite this Entry
“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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