willow

noun

wil·​low ˈwi-(ˌ)lō 

1

: any of a genus (Salix of the family Salicaceae, the willow family) of trees and shrubs bearing catkins of apetalous flowers and including forms of value for wood, osiers, or tanbark and a few ornamentals

2

: an object made of willow wood

especially : a cricket bat

willowlike

ˈwi-lō-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of willow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Patches of sawgrass and cattails are interspersed among the shrubby bayhead willows. —Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

The roots of the willow are aggressive and strong. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025

Expanding use of beaver-dam analogues Associate Professor Jonah Piovia-Scott, senior author of the study, said BDAs made from willow and other plants are increasingly common in the Pacific Northwest. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025

According to senior author Jonah Piovia-Scott, Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at WSU Vancouver, there’s plenty of active research into building beaver-dam analogues (BDAs) woven from willow and other plant matter. —New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wilghe, wilowe, from Old English welig; akin to Middle High German wilge willow

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing willow

• weeping willow
• willow herb

Rhymes for willow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

willow

noun

wil·​low ˈwil-ō 

: any of a genus of trees and shrubs that often have narrow leaves, produce catkins for flowers, and include some used for their wood, for making baskets, or as ornamentals

willowlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective