meadow
6 synonyms for meadow, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A grassy field, especially one grown or kept for grazing animals or for cutting as hay.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use meadow
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a flower meadow
graze in the meadow
meadow grass
hay meadow
Etymology
From Old English mǣdwe, related to "mead" (as in the old word for a grassy field) and ultimately to an ancient root meaning "to mow or reap" — the same root behind the word "math" as in "aftermath" (literally a second mowing).
Full origin of meadow →Frequently asked questions
What does “meadow” mean?
The word “meadow” means a grassy field, especially one grown or kept for grazing animals or for cutting as hay. In plain terms, an open grassy field, usually one used for grazing or hay rather than crops.
How do you pronounce “meadow”?
“Meadow” is pronounced MEHD-oh (/ˈmɛd.əʊ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “meadow” in a sentence?
Here is “meadow” used in a sentence: “The cows spent the afternoon grazing in the meadow.”
What part of speech is “meadow”?
Depending on how it is used, “meadow” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “meadow” come from?
The word “meadow” comes from Old English.
Is “meadow” a common word?
“Meadow” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “meadow” have?
“Meadow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a grassy field, especially one grown or kept for grazing animals or for cutting as hay.
What is the difference between a meadow and a field?
A meadow is specifically a grassy area kept for grazing animals or cut for hay, while a field is a broader term that can refer to any enclosed piece of land, including one used for crops. All meadows are fields in the general sense, but not all fields are meadows.
What is the difference between a meadow and a pasture?
A meadow is often grown specifically to be cut for hay, while a pasture is land where animals graze directly on the growing grass. In practice the terms overlap, since a meadow near a river or coast is also often low-lying grassland used for grazing.
Can "meadow" be used as a verb?
Yes, meadow can function as a verb meaning to grow or manage land as grass for hay, though this use is far less common than the noun.
