: 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
View this post on Instagram Campus officials say the owl appears to be from an active nest on campus.
—
Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Retire to your room and listen for owls.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Slowing down pays off here—a theme echoed by park staff—especially in the quieter morning hours when songbirds and owls are most active.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
Morrison — who’s opening the concept with his wife, Monica — said it’s named after the owl that’s been frequenting his backyard since his sons were born.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for owl
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.
Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Retire to your room and listen for owls.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Slowing down pays off here—a theme echoed by park staff—especially in the quieter morning hours when songbirds and owls are most active.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
Morrison — who’s opening the concept with his wife, Monica — said it’s named after the owl that’s been frequenting his backyard since his sons were born.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for owl
Cite this Entry
“Owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/owl. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
