bellow

verb

bel·​low ˈbe-(ˌ)lō 

bellowed; bellowing; bellows

intransitive verb

1

: to make the loud deep hollow sound characteristic of a bull

2

: to shout in a deep voice

transitive verb

: bawl

bellows the orders

bellow noun

Synonyms of bellow

• roar
• growl
• scream

Examples of bellow in a Sentence

He bellowed at her to come over at once.

He was bellowing into the phone, giving orders to one of his employees.

The sergeant was bellowing orders.

Recent Examples on the Web

Directly before voting began, Ben Gvir made a bellowing speech from the podium, describing the law as long overdue and a sign of strength and national pride. —Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026

The bellowing announcer was not-particularly-funny comedian Bert Kreischer, who has nothing to do with baseball but has a new series on Netflix. —Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026

Both its French and English versions use simple clear language to make devastating points about how quickly society can disintegrate into bellowing madness. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026

That surprise of illumination, that miraculous, orbiting satellite in the dark, bellowing night. —Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English belwen, from Old English bylgian; akin to Old English & Old High German bellan to roar

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for bellow

• cello
• fellow
• jello
• mellow
• melo
• velo
• marshmallow
• morello
• othello
• schoolfellow
• portobello
• violoncello

Kids Definition

bellow

verb

bel·​low ˈbel-ō 

: to make a deep loud roar like that of a bull

bellow noun

Biographical Definition

Bellow

biographical name

Bel·​low ˈbe-(ˌ)lō 

Saul 1915–2005 American (Canadian-born) writer