reedy

adjective \ ˈrē-dē \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of reedy

reedier; reediest

1 : abounding in or covered with reeds

2 : made of or resembling reeds; especially : slender, frail

3 : having the tone quality of a reed instrument

—

reediness

play \ˈrē-dē-nəs\ noun

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Recent Examples of reedy from the Web

Salim, a reedy 40-year-old with a wispy goatee, once had a fishing boat and earned enough money catching prawns to build a house of brick and concrete for his family of four in western Myanmar’s Maungdaw district.

— shashank bengali, latimes.com, "Worldwide, 1 in 110 people is displaced from home. Here's what life is like for some of them," 19 June 2018
Dorough, whose distinctive, reedy voice was featured on many of the series' popular songs and who was also its musical director, died Monday of natural causes at his home in Mount Bethel, Penn., his family confirmed to the Associated Press.

— james reed, latimes.com, "Bob Dorough, jazz artist who wrote catchy, educational ditties for 'Schoolhouse Rock,' dies at 94," 25 Apr. 2018
As a vocalist, Dorough had a reedy voice with a distinctive twang that resembled the stylings of Hoagy Carmichael or Mose Allison.

— matt schude, chicagotribune.com, "Bob Dorough, who set numbers and grammar to music in 'Schoolhouse Rock!,' dies at 94," 24 Apr. 2018
As a vocalist, Mr. Dorough had a reedy voice with a distinctive twang that resembled the stylings of Hoagy Carmichael or Mose Allison.

— matt schudel, Washington Post, "Bob Dorough, who set numbers and grammar to music in ‘Schoolhouse Rock!,’ dies at 94," 24 Apr. 2018
On Saturday the Russian artist sang in the original keys – that is, without evident transpositions – and his bright, reedy tenor sailed sweetly and without strain over Bicket’s chamber orchestra, which was playing at modern pitch.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Triumphant new 'Orphee' presages strong partnership of Lyric Opera, Joffrey Ballet," 24 Sep. 2017
Fronting a four-piece band, Jesse Aycock of Tulsa, Okla., offered a ballad-rich country-folk set featuring his sweet, reedy voice.

— jim fusilli, WSJ, "Undiscovered Acts Show That Pop and Rock Talent Runs Deep," 8 Aug. 2017
Out front, there was a child's play kitchen with a sink full of stagnant, reedy water and a white car whose whole front had been sideswiped and deeply dented.

— rachel kaadzi ghansah, GQ, "A Most American Terrorist: The Making of Dylann Roof," 21 Aug. 2017
Though the material is a mixed bag, Alexander's beautifully reedy, restrained voice sounds great throughout.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "12 O'Clock Track / Music / Post No Bills An overlooked 1972 cut from singular southern soul singer Arthur Alexander," 8 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reedy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of reedy

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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REEDY Defined for English Language Learners

reedy

adjective

Definition of reedy for English Language Learners

: full of or covered with reeds
: having a weak, high-pitched sound
: long and thin

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reedy

Definition of reedy

reediness

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reediness

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