: 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
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.
Retreats are silent—after all, who wants to spoil the natural sounds of a 15-acre campus that’s full of wildlife, from deer and owls to river otters and black bears? AFAR Media, 9 July 2025 In addition to more common sporty pursuits like rafting and rock climbing, the Broadmoor (No. 6) in Colorado Springs also maintains a falconry program that offers beginner and intermediate lessons with owls, hawks, and falcons. Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025 See it During a routine wildlife survey at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in the United Arab Emirates, a staff member discovered a rare long-eared owl, Asio otus, marking the first sighting of this species in the area in 22 years. Miami Herald, 27 June 2025 Each bottle is painted with one of six native Mexican species—the axolotl, jaguar, monarch butterfly, dwarf jay, Tamaulipas owl, or Mexican wolf that are assigned randomly for each purchase—houses an extra añejo that rests for three years in both new American and European oak. Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for owl

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of owl was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/owl. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

owl

noun
: 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

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