pillow

1 of 2

noun

pil·​low ˈpi-(ˌ)lō 

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

pillowy

ˈpi-lə-wē 

adjective

pillow

2 of 2

verb

pillowed; pillowing; pillows

transitive verb

1

: to rest or lay on or as if on a pillow

2

: to serve as a pillow for

intransitive verb

: 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

Noun

Evnin-Bingham suggests lying on your side or bringing in a pillow under your hips to support the pelvic floor while offering a new way to spice things up as one option. —Zahra Thompson, SELF, 28 Jan. 2026

The material has a pillow-soft feel that isn’t bulky, and has a split-hem on each side for extra breathability. —Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026

Cohen suggests incorporating accent pieces—pillows, objects, and art—done in more vibrant tones that are easy to edit or remove over time. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Meanwhile, in the living room, a lengthy wall-hugging sofa has an abundance of seating and pillows for every single guest to sprawl out, even when the home is at capacity (five guests). —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pilwe, from Old English pyle (akin to Old High German pfuliwi), from Latin pulvinus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1629, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing pillow

• pillow block
• pillow fight
• pillow lace
• pillow slip
• pillow talk
• throw pillow

Rhymes for pillow

• billow
• armadillo
• caudillo

Kids 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 verb

1

: to place on or as if on a pillow

2

: to serve as a pillow for