WordGarden.iomeow
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mɪˈaʊ/
US
- /miˈaʊ/
Meanings
Verb
to make the characteristic cry of a cat
Noun
the characteristic cry of a cat
Interjection
used to imitate the sound of a cat
Beyond the definition
"Meow" is the word we use for the sound a cat makes. It can be a noun, as in "I heard a loud meow," or a verb, as in "The kitten meowed at the door." People often use it when talking about cats in a warm, playful way. The sound can mean different things depending on the cat and the moment: a greeting, a request for food, a call for attention, or sometimes a sign of stress.
"Meow" is the familiar sound of a cat, especially a house cat. In English, the word works both as a noun and as a verb. You can say, "The cat let out a soft meow," or "The cat meowed until someone opened the door." It is also often written to copy the sound itself, especially in stories, comics, or speech.
In everyday use, this sound is strongly linked with communication. Cats may use it to greet people, ask for food, seek attention, show annoyance, or express discomfort. Kittens also use this kind of cry with their mothers. The exact meaning depends on the tone, length, and situation, so one short sound can feel very different from a long, repeated one.
The word is not limited to animal behavior. People also use it in playful writing or speech to imitate a cat, and sometimes to describe a voice or remark as cat-like for effect. Most of the time, though, "meow" simply names the sound a cat makes or the act of making that sound.
Examples
- 1
Pet behavior
The kitten meowed at the door until someone let her in.
- 2
Animal sound
I heard a tiny meow from under the porch.
- 3
Asking for food
The cat meows for food every morning at six.
- Patternmeow for + thing
meow because it wants it
- 4
Imitating animals
My niece pointed at the cartoon cat and said, “Meow!”
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Old-fashioned praise
My grandmother calls her new phone “the cat’s meow.”
- Usagethe cat’s meow
an old-fashioned phrase for something very good or impressive
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- meownounverb