mew

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈmyü 

: gull

especially : a small gull (Larus canus) of Eurasia and western North America

mew

2 of 5

verb (1)

mewed; mewing; mews

intransitive verb

: to utter a mew or similar sound

gulls mewed over the bay

transitive verb

: to utter by mewing : meow

mew

3 of 5

noun (2)

: meow

mew

4 of 5

noun (3)

1

: an enclosure for trained hawks

—usually plural

2

: a place for hiding or retirement

3

mews plural in form but singular or plural in construction chiefly British

a(1)

: stables usually with living quarters built around a court

(2)

: living quarters adapted from such stables

b

: back street : alley

mew

5 of 5

verb (2)

mewed; mewing; mews

transitive verb

: to shut up : confine

—often used with up

Did you know?

Slang Meaning of Mewing

Mewing is the practice, especially among young men, of placing one’s tongue against the roof of the mouth to (supposedly) improve the structure and increase the attractiveness of one’s jaw and facial structure (a practice that has not been found to be effective). Learn more >

Synonyms of mew

Verb (2)

• house
• coop (up)
• fence (in)
• box (in)
• include
• hem (in)
• confine
• wall (in)
• encase

Examples of mew in a Sentence

Verb (2)

bored with being mewed up in a stuffy house all day

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It is served daily upstairs in the mews by chef Delia, who has worked in their kitchen for 28 years. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

The stylish six-story abode includes a separate mews house and private walled garden. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026

The fact that these particular occupants of her nest were mewing and covered in fur didn’t seem to bother her at all. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mǣw; akin to Old Norse mār gull

Verb (1)

Middle English mewen, of imitative origin

Noun (3)

Middle English mewe, from Anglo-French mue, muwe, from muer to change, molt, from Latin mutare to change — more at mutable

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

circa 1800, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mew

• sea mew

Rhymes for mew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

mew

1 of 3 noun

ˈmyü 

: gull entry 1

especially : a small gull of Eurasia and western North America

mew

2 of 3 noun

: meow

mew verb

mew

3 of 3 noun

1

: a cage for hawks

2

plural, chiefly British : stables usually with living quarters built around a court

Etymology

Noun

Old English mæw "gull"

Noun

Middle English mewen (verb) "meow"; a word imitating the sound of a cat

Noun

Middle English mewe "a cage for hawks," from early French mue (same meaning), from muer "to change, molt," from Latin mutare "to change"