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Definition of meow

meow

/miˈaʊ/
(UK: miaow)
me · ow
Plural:meows
•
Past Simple:meowed
•
Past Participle:meowed
•
Present Participle:meowing
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meow Lexical Profile

meow Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The characteristic crying sound made by a cat.

Example

"The hungry cat let out a loud meow while waiting beside its empty food bowl."

Synonyms
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• interjection

1

Used to represent or imitate the vocal sound made by a cat, or humorously to comment on a spiteful or catty remark.

Example

"Meow! The stray kitten greeted the children as they opened the back door."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To make the characteristic crying sound of a cat.

Example

"Whenever the tabby wants to be let outside into the garden, she meows persistently at the kitchen window."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for meow

• Nearby Words

menubar
menudo
menziesia
meow
merapi
mercantile
merced

Word Origin & Etymology

Of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, attested in English since the 17th century (earlier spelled 'mew' from the 14th century); comparable to similar phonetic formations across diverse language families, such as Mandarin 'māo' and Ancient Egyptian 'miw'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Meow. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/meow
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