meow

American  

[mee-ou, myou] / miˈaʊ, myaʊ /

Sometimes miaou,

noun

1. the characteristic sound a cat makes.

2. a spiteful or catty remark.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to make the sound of a cat.

2. to make a spiteful or catty remark.

meow British  

/ mjaʊl, mjaʊ, mɪˈaʊl, mɪˈaʊ /

verb

1. (intr) (of a cat) to make a characteristic crying sound

---

interjection

1. an imitation of this sound

Etymology

Origin of meow

First recorded in 1870–75; imitative

Example Sentences

They may meow to ask for food, demand attention, or even "complain."

From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026

He would eat and then meow to leave.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2025

"She's super tiny, her breath smells so bad, and she doesn't have a meow," the singer dotes.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2025

Research has shown that cats meow primarily when in the presence of humans, suggesting that we can’t help but skew the app’s inputs, while some cats rarely vocalize at all.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2023

Quixote landed with a screeching meow and a thud, Dad accelerated up the road, and I burst into tears.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls