adjective
fallow
FA-loh
Fallow (adjective) means Left unplanted for a season or more to let the soil recover. Example: “The farmer let the northern field lie fallow this year.”
adjective
1
Left unplanted for a season or more to let the soil recover.
"The farmer let the northern field lie fallow this year."
2
Inactive or not being used or developed.
"His career had lain fallow for several years before the comeback."
noun
1
Land that has been plowed but deliberately left unseeded.
"The fallow stretched for acres beyond the barn."
How to use fallow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFarmland deliberately left unplanted to rest, or more broadly, anything sitting unused or inactive.
Common pairings
lie fallow
fallow field
fallow period
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Word forms
- Plural
- fallows
- Third person singular
- fallows
- Past tense
- fallowed
- Comparative
- more fallow
- Superlative
- most fallow
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The farmer let the northern field lie _____ this year.
Etymology
From Old English fealh ("fallow land"), related to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "arable land."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fallow
See all rhymes for fallow →Frequently asked questions
What does “fallow” mean?
The word “fallow” means left unplanted for a season or more to let the soil recover. In plain terms, farmland deliberately left unplanted to rest, or more broadly, anything sitting unused or inactive.
How do you pronounce “fallow”?
“Fallow” is pronounced FA-loh (/ˈfæloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fallow” in a sentence?
Here is “fallow” used in a sentence: “The farmer let the northern field lie fallow this year.”
What is another word for “fallow”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fallow” include dormant and latent.
What part of speech is “fallow”?
Depending on how it is used, “fallow” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “fallow” come from?
The word “fallow” comes from Old English. From Old English fealh ("fallow land"), related to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "arable land.".
How many meanings does “fallow” have?
“Fallow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: left unplanted for a season or more to let the soil recover.
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