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Definition of owl
owl
/aʊl/
owl
Adverb:owlishly
•Plural:owls
•Adjective:owlish
owl Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
2
Tier
1
Usage
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Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A nocturnal bird of prey characterized by a large broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, and specialized feathers adapted for silent flight, belonging to the order Strigiformes.
Example
"The great horned owl perched silently on the oak branch, scanning the forest floor for any sign of movement."
2
A person who habitually stays up late and is most active during the night.
Example
"Ever since college, he has been a confirmed owl, often writing his best code between midnight and dawn."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for owl Antonyms
View all antonyms for owl• Rhymes for owl
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'ūle', of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'uil' and German 'Eule', ultimately derived from a Proto-Indo-European root that imitates the bird's hooting call.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Owl. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/owl