meow

noun

me·​ow mē-ˈau̇ How to pronounce meow (audio)
variants or British miaow
Synonyms of meownext
1
: the cry of a cat
2
: a spiteful or malicious remark
meow intransitive verb
or British miaow

Examples of meow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The scolding was met with more meows and barks. — Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 The cafe will also offer special happy meow-er drink prices. — Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Mar. 2026 Banner headlines pound away at us that vibe coding is invincible and the cat’s meow. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 In his later days, Ronnie Edwards used to sit by that window and meow like a cat. — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meow

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meow was in 1582

Phrases Containing meow

Rhymes for meow

See All Rhymes for meow

Browse Nearby Words

Meo
meow
MEP
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meow. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

meow

noun
me·​ow mē-ˈau̇ How to pronounce meow (audio)
: the characteristic sound of a cat
meow verb

More from Merriam-Webster on meow

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for meow

Nglish: Translation of meow for Spanish Speakers

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