# meadow

/ˈmɛˌdoʊ/ (US) · /mˈɛdəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/meadow
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. grassy field

noun · CEFR B1

a field of grass, often with wild flowers, where animals might eat or where grass is grown for hay.

For teachers: a field or pasture covered with grass and often wildflowers, typically used for grazing livestock or for mowing to produce hay.

- The children ran through the meadow picking yellow buttercups in the summer sun.
- The valley was filled with lush alpine meadows that remained vibrant until the first heavy frosts of late October.

Usage: Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to evoke a sense of natural beauty.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse 'meadow' with 'field'; explain that a meadow specifically implies grass and wildflowers, whereas a field could be for any crop like corn or wheat.

### 2. low-lying wetland

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

low, flat land near a river that is often wet and covered in long grass.

For teachers: low-lying, moist grassland, especially near a river or in a marshy area.

- The water meadow flooded every winter when the river rose above its banks.
- Ecologists are working to restore the coastal meadows, which provide a vital habitat for migratory wading birds.

Usage: Frequently appears in compound forms like 'water meadow'.

Teaching tip: This sense is more technical and specific to geography or ecology.

## Examples

- The cows are grazing in the green meadow.
- We spent the afternoon walking through a sunny meadow filled with yellow buttercups and tall grass.
- The valley opens up into a vast alpine meadow, where the melting snow provides enough moisture for a spectacular display of spring flora.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.