pasture 1 of 2

noun

ˈpas-chər How to pronounce pasture (audio)
Definition of pasturenext
as in ranch
open land over which livestock may roam and feed horses grazing in a fenced pasture

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pasture

2 of 2

verb

as in to graze
to feed on grass or herbs pasturing sheep on town lands was actually a cheaper alternative to mowing

Synonyms & Similar 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 pasture
Noun
The movement between seasonal pastures is called transhumance. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Herds of cows waded across flooded pastures as ranchers guided them toward dry land. — Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
Hence their motivation to send Powell out to pasture—save billions in interest payments and take control of the bond market. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 His friend, a 64-year-old shepherd, had requested a permit from authorities that day to check on his sheep, pasturing in the area just above Blatten. — Laura Millan, Bloomberg, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pasture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pasture
  1. ranch
  2. graze
  3. yard
  4. pasturage
  5. prairie
Noun
  • The Flax Estate and Vineyard in Sonoma County wine country, once part of Hollywood actor Fred MacMurray’s ranch, has evolved into an expanse that’s home to a vintage farmhouse, caretaker’s cottage and modern home.
    — Kat Tran October 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Today, shooters working for Maui Nui Venison take deer from private ranches each night.
    — Tovar Cerulli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of ranch
Verb
  • To my left, a string of horses are grazing peacefully in a meadow; to my right, a coterie of children are throwing footballs and making s’mores on a campfire as the distant twang of bluegrass ripples through the air.
    — Olivia Singer, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Camels, many belonging to Touareg nomads, grazed on sparse patches of vegetation.
    — Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of graze
Noun
  • Looking confused, the Parrots deserved an Academy Award for their acting skills, because on their third play, quarterback King Exusdus took the snap from shotgun formation and sprinted 82 yards for a touchdown.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • That’s a considerable drop off for a player who combined for 1,131 yards from scrimmage (911 rushing) and 10 TDs in his rookie season last year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of yard
Noun
  • Meanwhile, many of the same people were evicted from their houses as landowners used the crisis to clear off these human encumbrances and free their fields for more profitable pasturage.
    — Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Here in rural Somalia, where about 50% of the people depend on animals for their livelihoods, the locusts are eating the pasturage.
    — NBC News, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2020
Definition of pasturage
Noun
  • Paddling, hiking or staying overnight at the Orlando-area’s outdoor gems showcases Florida’s unique habitats, including pine flatwoods, wetlands, hydric hammocks, scrubs, and open prairies.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In the postwar decades, humans seized ecosystems at breakneck speed—forests were felled, prairies plowed, wetlands drained.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of prairie

Browse Nearby Words

pasturages
pasture
pastured
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Cite this Entry

“Pasture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pasture. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pasture

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pasture

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