# owl

/ˈaʊɫ/ (US) · /ˈaʊl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/owl
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR A2

a bird with large eyes and a flat face that hunts small animals at night.

For teachers: a nocturnal bird of prey belonging to the order Strigiformes, known for its silent flight and binocular vision.

- We heard an owl hooting in the trees behind our house last night.
- The snowy owl is perfectly adapted to the arctic tundra, with thick white plumage that provides both insulation and camouflage against the snow.

### 2. a person who stays up late

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a person who is active or likes to stay awake late at night.

For teachers: a person who habitually stays up late or is most productive during the night hours; often used in the phrase 'night owl'.

- I have always been an owl, so I prefer working the late shift at the hospital.
- While her roommate was a morning person, Sarah was a true night owl who did her best academic writing after midnight.

### 3. a wise person

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

someone who is very wise or serious.

For teachers: a person perceived as having great wisdom, solemnity, or a serious disposition, drawing on the bird's cultural symbolism.

- The old professor was a bit of an owl, sitting quietly and watching everyone.
- He sat in the corner of the library like a silent owl, observing the frantic students with a look of detached wisdom.

### 4. political moderate

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a politician who has middle-ground views, not being too aggressive or too peaceful.

For teachers: a politician who adopts a moderate stance, specifically one that is neither hawkish (aggressive) nor dovish (pacifist).

- The senator described himself as an owl who preferred careful balance over extreme positions.
- In the debate over military spending, the administration's 'owls' argued for a strategic middle path that avoided the extremes of both hawks and doves.

## Examples

- An owl hunts for small animals in the dark.
- We heard the hoot of an owl coming from the old oak tree behind the house last night.
- While most birds are active during the day, the owl has evolved specialized tubular eyes and exceptional hearing to locate prey in near-total darkness.

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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.