as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the coal mine has been lying fallow since the drop in prices made it unprofitable
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Recent Examples of fallow
Bydan Charles, science.org, 2 Jan. 2025
That could transform parts of the San Joaquin Valley if farms fail and acreage goes fallow.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022
Noah Hiscox, a Coolidge farmer for 44 years, is among the growers who expect to fallow much of their land.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Adjective
In the years that followed, however, grass accumulated on the fallow and ungrazed farmland, and devastating fires erupted.
—Bydan Charles, science.org, 2 Jan. 2025
That could transform parts of the San Joaquin Valley if farms fail and acreage goes fallow.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
As farmers fallow more land in California’s Central Valley — due to drought and groundwater regulations — more dust could be kicked up, polluting low-income communities of color that already suffer from some of the nation’s worst air quality.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022
Noah Hiscox, a Coolidge farmer for 44 years, is among the growers who expect to fallow much of their land.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow
Adjective
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Producing companies can maintain decent drilling programs at $70 oil, but most of the currently active rigs would quickly go dormant at $50 per barrel.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Obligate diapause solves this by ensuring that the whole population goes dormant just before pupation, the final transformation from larva to adult.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Work these into the upper 4-6 inches of soil, then rake the surface to create a smooth planting bed.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2025
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Gardening Various full-body movements are involved in gardening, like pulling weeds, bending over or squatting, raking, shoveling, and repetitive use of heavy tools.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
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Park officials later discovered the remains in the original search area using a human remains detection canine during an off-trail grid search.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The directors branch is notoriously snobby, which will be a tough row to hoe for Wicked’s Jon M. Chu, who got his start directing films in the Step Up and G.I. Joe franchises.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
23 Nov. 2024
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Slowly, the trail widened with signs of civilization: hoed rows of plantings, waxy horses.—
Kayla Aletha Welch,
Longreads,
19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The council recently appointed Roberts to fill a vacant seat.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
13 Mar. 2025
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Tourists will still come by the thousands to admire the monuments, even if some of the big stone buildings turn vacant, like the ruins of the Roman Forum.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Tigers’ highest seed projection was listed as a No. 5.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2025
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Wilson then listed it in 2023 for $9.2 million before cutting his asking price to $8.5 million later that year.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Rheinmetall, the German defense giant once controlled by the Third Reich, is considering acquiring one of Volkswagen's soon-to-be idle plants, exploring ways to repurpose existing automotive infrastructure for military production.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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People who have lots of weak ties, who make eye contact and idle chitchat with baristas and neighbors, feel happier than those who don’t, her studies find.—
Olga Khazan,
Vox,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The research fellow who met me, Birte, was in her forties, and appeared as if she had been harrowed by her work.—
John Ganz,
Harper's Magazine,
22 May 2024
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Plus, Shin Ha-young is given little to do in the second half of the series despite her effortless shift from warm third wheel to harrowed and weary abuse victim.—
Geoffrey Bunting,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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