zoo

noun

\ˈzü

plural zoos

Definition of zoo

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a facility with usually indoor and outdoor settings where living, typically wild animals are kept especially for public exhibition

— called also zooological garden, zoological park

2 : a place, situation, or group marked by crowding, confusion, or unrestrained behavior The convention was a zoo.

zoo-

combining form

Definition of zoo- (Entry 2 of 2)

— see zo-

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about zoo

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Examples of zoo in a Sentence

Noun

The sixth grade classroom was a zoo after recess. The supermarket was a real zoo on the night before the storm.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The pumpkins aren't tossed in the garbage, though: The local zoo and SPCA chapter each take some to feed their animals, Wegley explains. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "The Dallas Arboretum Uses 100,000 Pumpkins to Build Its Annual Fall Village," 12 Oct. 2018 All 50 states and D.C. are included, giving you access to various art, science, and history museums, as well as select zoos and gardens. — Bridget Hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "Tickets for Smithsonian's Free 'Museum Day' Are Now Available," 20 Aug. 2018 Visit museums, art galleries, zoo and wildlife habitats, and local performing arts venues. — Zafreen Jaffery, Ed.d., miamiherald, "Bake cookies. Head to the library. Ways to keep your child's brain sharp during the summer," 27 June 2018 The piglets and their mother will be bonding for an undetermined length of time before going on public display at the zoo, Magill said. — Wayne K. Roustan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Newborn warthog piglets doing well and are sort of cute," 4 July 2018 The group also arranges special VIP activities during the trip, like going to a major league sports practice or helping feed animals at the zoo. — Kathleen Toner, CNN, "Parents with late-stage cancer share one last family adventure," 22 Mar. 2018 Authorities in Philadelphia are reportedly investigating a video that appears to show police struggling to arrest a black teenager who was allegedly selling water bottles outside the city’s zoo. — Benjamin Brown, Fox News, "Police investigating arrest of black teen selling water bottles at Philly zoo: report," 10 July 2018 The road emptied into the parking lot for Fort Bearizona, a more conventional zoo with exhibits, a snack bar and the gift shop, which features a faux cave formation across the ceiling. — Scott Craven, azcentral, "Bearizona: Top things to do at drive-thru wildlife park in Williams," 12 July 2018 Buy Photo Philadelphia is like a zoo with a menagerie of taxes, licenses, and fees. — Stu Bykofsky, Philly.com, "Welcome to Taxadelphia, where you pay more than you realize | Stu Bykofsky," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'zoo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.