bayou

noun

ˈbī-(ˌ)ü How to pronounce bayou (audio)
Definition of bayounext
as in tributary
a stream that flows into a larger body of water a small creek that is the bayou of a larger stream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bayou Introduce yourself to the local critters living in the tanks inside, then stroll the gorgeous bayou walkways or take your little ones to the nature play garden. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 June 2026 The sensation is of walking into a bayou junk shop that’s been abandoned and left to flower, and within and around these verdant crannies, Tsimring conjures a literal electric storm. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026 Louisiana was already represented with the bayou scene in Soarin’ Across America. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 June 2026 The event, rain or shine, features more than 22,000 pounds of fresh, live crawfish delivered from Louisiana’s bayou country and cooked on-site for a Cajun feast. — Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bayou
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bayou
tributary
Noun
  • Rough weather rolled over the Colorado community of Evergreen on Wednesday night, swelling Bear Creek and tributaries and tossing debris and mud into homes and downtown.
    — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • The property features over a mile of frontage along Fall River and controls two of the river’s primary spring-fed tributaries — Spring Creek and Lava Creek, according to Hall and Hall.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of tributary

Browse Nearby Words

bayonets
bayou
bayous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bayou.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bayou. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bayou

Nglish: Translation of bayou for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All