ivy

1 of 2

noun

plural ivies
1
: a widely cultivated ornamental climbing or prostrate or sometimes shrubby chiefly Eurasian vine (Hedera helix) of the ginseng family with evergreen leaves, small yellowish flowers, and black berries
2
: any of several climbing plants (such as Virginia creeper) resembling ivy
especially : poison ivy
3
often capitalized : an Ivy League college

Illustration of ivy

Illustration of ivy
  • ivy 1

ivy

2 of 2

adjective

Examples of ivy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The house was built out of white stone and covered in ivy. Hazlitt, 13 Mar. 2024 At one point, Bardem has an elbow propped up on the banquette, his head resting against an open palm, the ivy mingling unnoticed in his hair. Hemal Jhaveri, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 Known for more than just the ivy leagues, visitors will love poking around Harvard Square during the day, grabbing a cup of coffee from the Peet's featured in Good Will Hunting and picking out a book at The Coop, and checking out the lively scene in Central Square at night. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 The thick layer of mulch blocks sunlight from reaching seeds of invasive weeds such as Italian thistle, poison hemlock and Cape ivy that would otherwise quickly take over. Alix Soliman, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2024 Enclosed by high walls covered in verdant ivy, the Baroque gardens are lush with roses, herbs and perennial flowers and shrubs, meriting its inclusion in the Secret Gardens of Georgetown. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 The ivy, if not addressed, will eventually kill all these trees. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 Overall, blooms of the ivy types are similar to the zonals but with smaller bloom clusters and deeper purple flowers. Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2023 Also undamaged: the text of the 19th-century love poem that wraps around the walls of the vault like the ivy of infatuation. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The actress, who's known for being something of an amateur equestrian, appears to be bending over to give her horse Ivy water through a tiny straw. Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 21 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ivy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English īfig; akin to Old High German ebah ivy

Adjective

from the prevalence of ivy-covered buildings on the campuses of older U.S. colleges

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near ivy

Cite this Entry

“Ivy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ivy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ivy

noun
ˈī-vē
plural ivies
1
: a climbing woody vine with glossy evergreen leaves, small yellowish flowers, and black berries that is often grown on the outside of buildings

called also English ivy

2
: any of several climbing plants (as Virginia creeper or poison ivy) resembling ivy

More from Merriam-Webster on ivy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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