What does meow mean?
Meow is an English noun and verb associated with the characteristic cry of a cat. As a noun, it names the sound itself, as in “I heard a meow from the hallway,” and can also refer to an imitation of that sound. As a verb, it describes a cat making its cry, as in “The kitten meowed until someone opened the door.” The word is familiar rather than formal, but it is widely accepted in everyday speech and writing. “Miaow” is a common alternative spelling, especially in British usage, while “mew” is a related word often associated with a softer cry. Meow also has a playful quality, which allows people to use the word humorously when imitating a cat or describing a petlike request. Its usefulness lies in being both precise and conversational: unlike a general term for animal noise, it identifies a familiar sound with a single, readily understood English word.
The characteristic cry of a cat, or an imitation of that sound.
"She heard a frightened meow outside the front door."
Often used with words such as “loud,” “little,” or “soft” to describe the quality of the sound.
To make the characteristic cry of a cat.
"The hungry cat meowed insistently."
The verb is normally intransitive and is used in familiar, everyday contexts.
The standard plural of the noun, used for multiple cries or multiple instances of the sound.
"The alley was filled with meows from the hungry cats."
Even when a cat says nothing, English speakers have a ready-made word for the sound it makes: meow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meow come from?
Meow entered English in the early nineteenth century as an imitation of the sound made by a cat. Related forms found in German, Dutch, and French reflect the same tendency to represent feline vocalizations directly in speech. These forms are chiefly independent sound imitations rather than words inherited from one shared ancient root.
Related word forms
How meow is actually used
Meow is informal and familiar in ordinary speech. The verb is normally intransitive, while the noun is commonly used in expressions such as “a loud meow” and “let out a meow.”
Easily confused with meow
Mew can also denote a cat's cry, but it is often associated with a softer, kitten-like sound, whereas meow is the general word for a cat's characteristic cry.