Meaning & use
owls
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“owls” is a form of “owl”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Large birds with big eyes and flat faces that hunt at night and make a hooting sound.
Grammar: Regular plural of 'owl': one owl, two owls.
Patterns
- a pair of owls
- owls hoot
- owls hunt at night
We heard owls hooting in the woods behind the house.
Owls have special feathers that let them fly almost silently.
The zoo has a small family of snowy owls.
nouncountable
Members of a group of birds that includes barn owls and snowy owls, often seen as symbols of wisdom.
Grammar: Used in general statements about the bird family.
Patterns
- species of owls
- owls and hawks
- nocturnal owls
Scientists study how owls find their prey in complete darkness.
In many stories, owls represent wisdom and knowledge.
Different species of owls live in forests, deserts, and even cities.
Word forms
| singular | owl |
|---|
Common combinations
- a parliament of owls
- A group of owls is sometimes called a parliament of owls.
- owls hoot
- At dusk, the owls hoot from the tall trees.
- night owls
- My sister and I are night owls and stay up late.
- snowy owls
- Snowy owls have white feathers that blend into the snow.
Synonyms and how they differ
- birds of prey
- A wider group that includes owls, hawks, and eagles; it is not a direct synonym.
Word family
Commonly confused: owls or awls?
owls vs awls
An 'awl' is a pointed tool for making holes. 'Owls' are birds. They sound similar but are spelled differently.
Practice
Which sentence uses the correct spelling?
Choose one answer.
The plural of 'owl' is 'owls'. 'Owel' and 'ol' are misspellings, and 'owl's' is a possessive, not a plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “owls”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.