owl

noun

ˈau̇(-ə)l 

: any of an order (Strigiformes) of chiefly nocturnal birds of prey with a large head and eyes, short hooked bill, strong talons, and soft fluffy often brown-mottled plumage

Examples of owl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Barred owls, native to eastern North America, began expanding west around 1900 as human activity altered forests and the Great Plains. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

We are constantly threatened by dogs, coyotes, snakes, owls, hawks…and worst of all…you. —Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

But the owl — the birds were incredible and actually the easiest to work with. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025

In subsequent pictures the model shared, the 8-year-old could be seen wearing a raptor glove, with a snow white owl sitting atop it, as an older man seemingly taught him how to work with the animal. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English owle, from Old English ūle; akin to Old High German uwila owl

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing owl

• barn owl
• barred owl
• burrowing owl
• elf owl
• great horned owl
• horned owl
• night owl
• northern spotted owl
• owl monkey
• saw-whet owl
• screech owl
• short-eared owl
• snowy owl
• spotted owl

Rhymes for owl

• foul
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• prowl
• scowl
• afoul
• wildfowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

owl

noun

ˈau̇(ə)l 

: any of an order of birds of prey that are active mainly at night and that have a broad head, very large eyes, and a powerful hooked beak and claws