1
a
: a support for the head of a reclining person
especially
: one consisting of a cloth bag filled with feathers, down, sponge rubber, or plastic fiber
b
: something resembling a pillow especially in form
2
: a cushion or pad tightly stuffed and used as a support for the design and tools in making lace with a bobbin
pillowed; pillowing; pillows
: to lay or rest one's head on or as if on a pillow
Examples of pillow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2024
The thought was preposterous, terrible—the thought of the goose-feather pillow pressed over a face.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Magnum revolver from under her pillow, the review says.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Options such as a pillow with buckwheat hulls can significantly improve your comfort levels.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
The roommate claimed Zhao tried to suffocate him with a pillow during one attack, and days later threatened to use a knife to cut the roommate’s head if Zhao couldn’t come back to work.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Consider these details when shopping for travel pillows.
—Jacqueline Laurean Yates, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Republican Roscoe Bartlett bowed before Moon and Hak Jan Han, while Democrat Danny Davis brought forth a pillow bearing a golden crown for his head.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Lena Brown is a recluse who doesn’t have a lock on her door and so sleeps with a hammer by her pillow.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
After stripping it of pillows and linens, inspect for any stains.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2024
The thought was preposterous, terrible—the thought of the goose-feather pillow pressed over a face.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Magnum revolver from under her pillow, the review says.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Options such as a pillow with buckwheat hulls can significantly improve your comfort levels.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
The roommate claimed Zhao tried to suffocate him with a pillow during one attack, and days later threatened to use a knife to cut the roommate’s head if Zhao couldn’t come back to work.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Consider these details when shopping for travel pillows.
—Jacqueline Laurean Yates, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Republican Roscoe Bartlett bowed before Moon and Hak Jan Han, while Democrat Danny Davis brought forth a pillow bearing a golden crown for his head.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Lena Brown is a recluse who doesn’t have a lock on her door and so sleeps with a hammer by her pillow.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pillow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pillow
Cite this Entry
“Pillow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pillow. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pillow
1 of 2 noun
pil·low
ˈpil-ō 
: a bag filled with soft or springy material used as a cushion usually for the head of a person lying down
pillow
2 of 2 verb1
: to place on or as if on a pillow
2
: to serve as a pillow for
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