bellow

BEH-loh

Bellow (verb) means to shout in a deep, loud voice. Example: “The sergeant bellowed orders across the parade ground.”

verb

To shout in a deep, loud voice.

"The sergeant bellowed orders across the parade ground."

"He bellowed for help when he saw the smoke."

To make the loud, deep roaring sound of a large animal, such as a bull.

"The bull bellowed and pawed at the ground."

noun

A loud, deep roar or shout.

"A bellow of laughter erupted from the back of the room."

How to use bellow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo shout or roar loudly and deeply, like an angry bull or a furious sergeant.

Common pairings

bellow orders bellow with rage bellow in pain

Word forms

bellowed past tense, bellows plural, Bellows plural, bellows singular

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The sergeant _____ orders across the parade ground.

Etymology

From Old English belgan, "to swell with rage," part of the same ancient root family as "bulge" and "billow" — the common thread being something swelling up before it bursts out.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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roar roaring bawl holla holler bellowing hollering yowl hollo holloa

Related words

cry sing thunder shout yelling shouting yell roar

Rhymes for bellow

yellow fellow mellow Longfellow Goodfellow

See all rhymes for bellow →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bellow” mean?

The word “bellow” means to shout in a deep, loud voice. In plain terms, to shout or roar loudly and deeply, like an angry bull or a furious sergeant.

How do you pronounce “bellow”?

“Bellow” is pronounced BEH-loh (/ˈbɛloʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “bellow” in a sentence?

Here is “bellow” used in a sentence: “The sergeant bellowed orders across the parade ground.”

What part of speech is “bellow”?

Depending on how it is used, “bellow” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “bellow” come from?

The word “bellow” comes from Old English. From Old English belgan, "to swell with rage," part of the same ancient root family as "bulge" and "billow" — the common thread being something swelling up before it bursts out.

How many meanings does “bellow” have?

“Bellow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shout in a deep, loud voice.

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