# pasture

/ˈpæstʃɝ/ (US) · /pˈɑːstʃɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. grazing land

noun · CEFR B2

a field covered with grass where animals like cows, sheep, or horses can eat.

For teachers: land covered with grass or other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially as a managed agricultural resource.

- The farmer moved the sheep to a fresh pasture where the grass was longer.
- The cattle were rotated between different pastures to prevent overgrazing and allow the clover to recover during the summer months.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the land type in general.

### 2. to put out to graze

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to put animals into a field so they can eat the grass.

For teachers: to place livestock in a pasture for the purpose of feeding on growing herbage.

- In the spring, the horses are pastured in the valley.
- The rancher decided to pasture his prize bulls on the northern slopes, where the soil was richer and the grass more nutrient-dense.

Usage: This is a transitive verb requiring an object, usually the type of animal being fed.

### 3. to eat grass

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to eat grass in a field.

For teachers: to graze or feed on growing grass.

- The deer were seen pasturing quietly at the edge of the woods.
- As the sun began to set, the herd continued pasturing across the wide plain, oblivious to the approaching storm.

Usage: Used intransitively to describe the action of the animal.

## Examples

- The cows are grazing in the green pasture.
- The farmer moved the sheep to a fresh pasture after they had eaten all the grass in the first field.
- Sustainable livestock management requires rotating herds between different sections of pasture to prevent overgrazing and allow the soil nutrients to recover naturally.

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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.