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Meaning & use

morrow

noun·Advancedliteraryarchaic

Last updated

UK/ˈmɒrəʊ/
US/ˈmɔːroʊ/

Meanings

  1. nounsingularliteraryarchaic

    The next day, or the time just after the present; used in old or poetic writing.

    Grammar: Almost always 'the morrow' or 'on the morrow'; modern speech uses 'tomorrow'.

    Patterns

    • on the morrow
    • the morrow

    We shall set out on the morrow.

    Think not of the morrow, for today has trouble enough.

    On the morrow the king rode to battle.

  2. nounsingulararchaic

    The morning, in very old English.

    Grammar: Archaic, appearing mainly in the greeting 'good morrow'.

    Patterns

    • good morrow

    Good morrow, gentle sir.

    The innkeeper bade them a cheerful good morrow.

    Good morrow to you all, he said in the old way.

Common combinations

on the morrow
On the morrow the travelers resumed their journey.
good morrow
The actor greeted the crowd with a 'good morrow'.
the morrow's dawn
They waited for the morrow's dawn.
until the morrow
The decision is put off until the morrow.

Synonyms and how they differ

tomorrow
Tomorrow is the everyday word, while morrow is poetic and old.
the next day
The next day is plain and works for any past or future story, while morrow adds an old-fashioned feel.
the day after
The day after is neutral and clear, whereas morrow suggests literature.

Opposites

yesterday

Word family

tomorrow noun
the day after today
morning noun
the early part of the day, from the same old root
morn noun
a poetic word for morning

Commonly confused: morrow or marrow?

morrow vs marrow

Marrow is the soft tissue inside bones, or a large green vegetable, and has nothing to do with the next day.

Practice

In the line 'We shall depart on the morrow', what does 'morrow' mean?

Make it your own

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