mew

IPA/mjuː/
KK[mjˈu]IPA/mjuː/

mew — noun

  • mewsingular
  • mewsplural

1. the soft, high-pitched crying sound that a cat makes — quieter and gentler than

1.nounA2
Definition

the soft, high-pitched crying sound that a cat makes — quieter and gentler than a full 'meow', often used for kittens or distressed cats.

Example

A tiny mew came from the box, and Wei found a newborn kitten inside.

noun + 'came from' (sound origin pattern)

The old tabby let out a soft mew as Amara gently stroked her fur.

Common collocations
  • soft mew
  • quiet mew
  • tiny mew
  • plaintive mew
  • let out a mew
  • hear a mew
Synonyms
  • meow

    the standard, louder cat sound that most speakers use

  • miaow

    British spelling variant of meow, slightly more formal or literary

  • mewl

    a weak, crying sound, usually of a very young animal; even softer than mew

Grammar Patterns

typically singular

often preceded by 'a' or 'the'

Usage Note

Less common than 'meow'. Typically describes a quieter, gentler sound made by kittens or cats that are anxious, hurt, or very young.

Common Mistakes

I heard a loud mew from the angry cat.
I heard a loud meow from the angry cat.
'mew' is usually a soft sound; 'meow' is the standard word for a typical cat cry.
The cat mew at the door.
The cat let out a mew at the door.
When used as a noun, it usually follows 'let out', 'make', 'hear', not used directly as a verb form.
The puppy let out a mew.
The puppy let out a whimper.
'mew' is specifically the sound of a cat, not other animals.

2. a medium-sized grey-and-white seabird found across northern Europe, Asia, and No

2.nounC1
Definition

a medium-sized grey-and-white seabird found across northern Europe, Asia, and North America, also called the common gull or mew gull.

Example

The birdwatcher spotted a mew gull among the larger herring gulls.

compound noun: 'mew gull'

A flock of mews rested on the sand near the harbour at low tide.

plural form: mews

Common collocations
  • mew gull
  • common mew
  • flock of mews
  • solitary mew
Synonyms
  • common gull

    the more widely understood name for this bird

  • mew gull

    the American name for the same species, emphasising its call

  • seagull

    the everyday term for any gull, though less scientifically precise

Grammar Patterns

typically singular or plural

Usage Note

A specialised term used mainly in birdwatching and ornithology. Most English speakers would call this bird a 'seagull' or 'common gull' rather than a 'mew'. Distinguish from noun/1 (CAT SOUND), which shares the same spelling but is a different word entirely.

Common Mistakes

I saw a mew catching a mouse in the garden.
I saw a mew on the beach near the water.
The bird sense (mew gull) lives near coasts, not in gardens.
Every mew in the pet shop was hungry.
Every kitten in the pet shop let out a mew.
The bird sense is not used for cats; the cat-sound sense is noun/1.

mew — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe sounds made by cats, but they differ in volume, intensity, and regional use. 'Mew' is the softest — a quiet, high-pitched sound typical of kittens or anxious cats. 'Meow' (American spelling) is the standard word for the full range of cat vocalisations, from a friendly greeting to a loud demand for food or attention. 'Miaow' (British spelling) means the same as 'meow' and is the preferred spelling in the UK and Commonwealth. 'Mewl' is weaker and more pitiful than 'mew', often suggesting a helpless or sick animal, and it can also be used for a crying baby. For everyday conversation, 'meow' is the most natural choice: 'My cat meows at the door every morning.' For a softer, quieter sound, 'mew' fits better: 'The kitten mewed until I picked it up.'

mew ↗meow ↗mewlmiaow ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • let out a mew
  • hear a mew

Prepositions

Etymology

Imitative originOld EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'mew' has two unrelated origins. The cat-sound meanings (verb and noun sense 1) come from imitative origins — the word was created to echo the soft cry of a cat, similar to how 'meow' and 'miaow' were formed. This imitative 'mew' dates back to Middle English and appears in many languages with small variations. The seabird meaning (noun sense 2) comes from a different source: Old English 'mǣw', which is related to Dutch 'meeuw' and German 'Möwe'. This Germanic word for 'gull' is also believed to be imitative — this time of the bird's cry — but entered English through a completely separate historical path.