owl

noun

ˈau̇(-ə)l 

: 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

Wildlife in his yard: baby raccoons, owl, deer Ewart lives off Park Road in south Charlotte, bordering Little Sugar Creek Greenway. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 2 Aug. 2025

Some are even completely shaped like characters, such as Hedwig the owl. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2025

Duolingo’s irreverent owl may look like comic relief, but their campaigns are fueled by machine learning and cultural analysis. —Brandon Mina, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025

Whimsical wall art: Featuring paper art owls, bats, and black cats Light-Up Haunted Houses: Paper pieces with a warm glow for windows and shelves Balducci’s pieces layer beautifully with more traditional fall decor or stand out on their own as focal points. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English owle, from Old English ūle; akin to Old High German uwila owl

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing owl

• barn owl
• barred owl
• burrowing owl
• elf owl
• great horned owl
• horned owl
• night owl
• northern spotted owl
• owl monkey
• saw-whet owl
• screech owl
• short-eared owl
• snowy owl
• spotted owl

Rhymes for owl

• foul
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• prowl
• scowl
• afoul
• wildfowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

owl

noun

ˈau̇(ə)l 

: 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