plural lions
1
a
or plural lion
: a large heavily built social cat (Panthera leo) of open or rocky areas chiefly of sub-Saharan Africa though once widely distributed throughout Africa and southern Asia that has a tawny body with a tufted tail and a shaggy blackish or dark brown mane in the male
b
: any of several large wildcats
especially
: cougar sense 1
c
capitalized
: leo
2
a
: a person felt to resemble a lion (as in courage or ferocity)
b
: a person of outstanding interest or importance
a literary lion
3
capitalized
[Lions (club)]
: a member of a major national and international service club
Examples of lion in a Sentence
the roar of the lion
He was a literary lion among the writers of his time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Based on John Grisham’s bestselling novel, in The Rainmaker, Rudy Baylor, who is fresh out of law school, goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond as well as his law school girlfriend, Sarah.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Photos of a dancing gorilla, a choir of lions, a smoking duck and frog teamwork are in the running for the funniest wildlife image of 2025.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Both the actor and the Oscar-winning director speak Spanish, which is what del Toro would use to tell him about, for example, the unlikely parties of a mouse and a lion in a risqué situation.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
The departure was recommended by the Lion Species Survival Plan, which guides lion management for many zoos, according to Hardwick.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lion
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Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Photos of a dancing gorilla, a choir of lions, a smoking duck and frog teamwork are in the running for the funniest wildlife image of 2025.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Both the actor and the Oscar-winning director speak Spanish, which is what del Toro would use to tell him about, for example, the unlikely parties of a mouse and a lion in a risqué situation.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
The departure was recommended by the Lion Species Survival Plan, which guides lion management for many zoos, according to Hardwick.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lion
Cite this Entry
“Lion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lion. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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