1
a
: a support on which birds rest
b
: a place where winged animals and especially birds customarily roost
2
: a group of birds roosting together
roosted; roosting; roosts
1
: to settle down for rest or sleep : perch
2
: to settle oneself as if on a roost
: to supply a roost for or put to roost
Examples of roost in a Sentence
Verb
Pigeons roost on the building's ledge.
pigeons flying home to roost on the roof
Recent Examples on the Web
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
The sympathetic throw them pretzel chunks, the disgusted kick their way through their sidewalk confabs, and even the agnostic cover their heads when passing below their subway platform roosts.
—Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Though state legislators still have time to work out a solution before that shortfall comes home to roost next year, transit advocates expressed disappointment at how negotiations fell apart despite years of warnings about the fiscal conundrum.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for roost
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Noun
The others are used as roost shelters from intense summer heat.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
The sympathetic throw them pretzel chunks, the disgusted kick their way through their sidewalk confabs, and even the agnostic cover their heads when passing below their subway platform roosts.
—Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Verb
Winged Photo Competition Winners At dusk, a family of six Honduran white bats roost on the underside of a leaf, preparing to take off in search of their dinner.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Though state legislators still have time to work out a solution before that shortfall comes home to roost next year, transit advocates expressed disappointment at how negotiations fell apart despite years of warnings about the fiscal conundrum.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for roost
Cite this Entry
“Roost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roost. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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