fallow 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of fallownext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fallow

2 of 2

verb

as in to rake

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fallow
Adjective
Those mid-’80s years, so crucial to a 10-year-old kid forming his fandom, were fallow. — Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026 The land would then lie fallow until the next rainy season so elephants could graze without threatening the farmers' livelihood. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 May 2026
Verb
District officials say that could force growers to fallow hundreds of thousands of acres. — Jeff St. John, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026 Continuing to cut farm water allocations is on track to fallow a million acres or more of irrigated farmland in the state, causing a devastating loss of jobs and economic productivity. — Edward Ring, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow
  1. dormant
  2. rake
  3. off
  4. hoe
  5. vacant
  6. list
  7. idle
  8. harrow
Adjective
  • Brighouse’s brother died suddenly, and the footage sat dormant for many years.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, Dak Prescott tends to lead the way, but their running game isn’t exactly dormant.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of dormant
Verb
  • Residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which raked Hawaii without making landfall in August, producing heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities say Ortiz raked Rihanna’s home and an Airstream trailer parked on her Beverly Crest property with bullets from an assault rifle March 8.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of rake
Adjective
  • Mix these finds into your work wardrobe or your off-duty ensembles—they’re versatile enough to do it all, and the festive palette is worth drooling over.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Caminero is one of those players who, even amid a 162-game season, spends his off days watching baseball.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of off
Verb
  • The post-op row, however, is proving tough to hoe for a small business owner used to putting in hours well beyond overtime.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
  • The $10 general admission during the Lilac Festival on weekends includes petting zoo, lilac maze, hoe down & jug band shows, lawn games, and lilac viewing.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of hoe
Adjective
  • To the west was mostly more vacant land stretching to the river.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • However, in this case, the two Democratic seats in the minority are currently vacant, and one Republican seat is about to be vacated.
    — Tzachi Zach, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of vacant
Verb
  • In tracking a potential illness in the locker room, wide receiver Jonathan Mingo popped up on the injury report on Wednesday with an illness and was listed as questionable.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Her resume listed a 2000 associate’s degree in general studies and a 2024 medical-assistant diploma from an adult school.
    — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of list
Adjective
  • Treasurers want to reduce idle balances and manage liquidity more efficiently.
    — Pratik Khowala, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • For now, though, the band’s tour bus is sitting idle in the middle of a Planet Fitness parking lot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Shepherd uses the safe space to open up more.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of idle
Verb
  • Before the big race, the track was harrowed, bringing it to a better and drier racing surface.
    — John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
  • 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
Definition of harrow

Browse Nearby Words

fallouts
fallow
fallowed
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Cite this Entry

“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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