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

Creator 3-in-1 Forest Animal Set This Lego set brings three times the fun, as it can be assembled into a fox with forest scenery, squirrel with an acorn, or an owl in a tree. —Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

The owls got their common name after adapting to living among humans and making nests in the wooden barns that dotted these lands. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 17 Dec. 2025

For thousands of years, the cave served as a communal home for a family of owls. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025

The owls might have remained in the cave for generations, resulting in the accumulation of thousands of fossils. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 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