1
a
: a woman who has lost her spouse or partner by death and usually has not remarried
c
: a woman whose spouse or partner leaves her alone or ignores her frequently or for long periods to engage in a usually specified activity
a golf widow
a video game widow
2
: an extra hand or part of a hand of cards dealt face down and usually placed at the disposal of the highest bidder
3
: a single usually short last line (as of a paragraph) separated from its related text and appearing at the top of a printed page or column
widowed; widowing; widows
1
: to cause to become a widow or widower
2
obsolete
: to survive as the widow of
3
: to deprive of something greatly valued or needed
Examples of widow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
C. Clark, D. Aldridge, S. Amick, F. Katz, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Finally, there’s Elizabeth Dutton, who ends the series as a pregnant young widow preparing to return to her hometown of Boston after learning firsthand that life on the ranch is grueling and deadly.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 Apr. 2025
Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
Punter, now widowed, has not been involved in football for 15 years.
—Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widow
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Noun
Cuban forged a particular bond with Dumont, sensing long-term business opportunities with the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, Sheldon’s widow.
—C. Clark, D. Aldridge, S. Amick, F. Katz, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Finally, there’s Elizabeth Dutton, who ends the series as a pregnant young widow preparing to return to her hometown of Boston after learning firsthand that life on the ranch is grueling and deadly.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Gerritsen corrects that in the sequel, fleshing out the deep friendships among Maggie and married couple Lloyd and Ingrid, widowed Ben, and charming Declan.
—Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
Punter, now widowed, has not been involved in football for 15 years.
—Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widow
Cite this Entry
“Widow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widow. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
widow
2 of 2 verb
: to cause to become a widow or widower
widowed by war
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