1
: a young tree
specifically
: one not over four inches (about 10 centimeters) in diameter at breast height
2
Examples of sapling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The board also voted to receive free oak tree saplings as part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Restore the Canopy program.
—
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Resist the urge to add fertilizer immediately after planting the sapling in your yard.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Tens of thousands of giant sequoia seedlings and saplings are sprouting in a Sierra Nevada grove devastated by the 2021 KNP Complex fire.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
During a stop on our paddle, checking out a muddy riverbank that was exposed by the drawdown, Andersen pointed out a sapling of hope.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sapling
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Resist the urge to add fertilizer immediately after planting the sapling in your yard.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Tens of thousands of giant sequoia seedlings and saplings are sprouting in a Sierra Nevada grove devastated by the 2021 KNP Complex fire.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
During a stop on our paddle, checking out a muddy riverbank that was exposed by the drawdown, Andersen pointed out a sapling of hope.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sapling
Cite this Entry
“Sapling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapling. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sapling
noun
sap·ling
ˈsap-liŋ 
: a young tree
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
