widow

1 of 2

noun

wid·​ow ˈwi-(ˌ)dō 

1

a

: a woman who has lost her spouse or partner by death and usually has not remarried

b

: grass widow sense 2

c

: a woman whose spouse or partner leaves her alone or ignores her frequently or for long periods to engage in a usually specified activity

a golf widow

a video game widow

2

: an extra hand or part of a hand of cards dealt face down and usually placed at the disposal of the highest bidder

3

: a single usually short last line (as of a paragraph) separated from its related text and appearing at the top of a printed page or column

widow

2 of 2

verb

widowed; widowing; widows

transitive verb

1

: to cause to become a widow or widower

2

obsolete : to survive as the widow of

3

: to deprive of something greatly valued or needed

Examples of widow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In 2024, James co-authored a new law to expand her ability to prosecute deed theft, then used that law last year to charge two people with stealing the home of a widow on hospice care in Queens. —Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

His widow, Stephanie, though, remained composed after the verdict was read aloud for a second time, nodding her head as Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz spoke to her. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026

Verb

There is an sinister quality to the widowed father’s appeal wafting throughout the entire season. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026

Decades later, her family and widowed husband, Chris Pérez, have kept her memory alive with annual musical tributes, a museum preserving her belongings and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. —Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English widewe, from Old English wuduwe; akin to Old High German wituwa widow, Latin vidua, Sanskrit vidhavā, Latin -videre to separate

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing widow

• black widow
• chuck-will's-widow
• football/golf widow
• grass widow
• merry widow
• widow-maker
• widow's cruse
• widow's peak
• widow's walk

Rhymes for widow

• kiddo

Kids Definition

widow

1 of 2 noun

wid·​ow ˈwid-ō 

: a woman whose spouse has died

widowhood

-ˌhu̇d

noun

widow

2 of 2 verb

: to cause to become a widow or widower

widowed by war