as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the coal mine has been lying fallow since the drop in prices made it unprofitable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fallow
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Amidst the towering oak trees, visitors can spot fallow, red and roe deer grazing all throughout the year, while the park’s vast plains and jagged rock formations also form the perfect haven for a diverse array of raptors.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Laura Reiley, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022
Compromising probably would require money — perhaps tax money — to pay farmers to fallow their land and governments to build new canals and repair old ones.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Adjective
Next year, Glastonbury will take a fallow year to allow Worthy Farm to recover, making the demand to attend this year’s edition even greater than usual.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025
Amidst the towering oak trees, visitors can spot fallow, red and roe deer grazing all throughout the year, while the park’s vast plains and jagged rock formations also form the perfect haven for a diverse array of raptors.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Many growers decided to fallow their fields and sell their water to perennial crops like almonds to defray their losses.
—Laura Reiley, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022
Compromising probably would require money — perhaps tax money — to pay farmers to fallow their land and governments to build new canals and repair old ones.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow
Adjective
-
Instead of coddling grass with irrigation and fertilizer to prevent it from going dormant, embrace this natural response.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Apr. 2025
-
This allows the rooted cutting a full growing season to develop before becoming dormant in the winter.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Each year, rake away debris from the base of the plant to help get rid of overwintering pests and apply fresh mulch.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The outbreak of tornadoes raked through towns under the cover of darkness — the most dangerous and deadly time for a tornado outbreak.—
Eric Zerkel,
CNN,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Last-minute fixes were still being made, and some Cubs players trickled into the clubhouse to put stuff in their lockers or work out on their off day.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Wayward rhizomes that pop up as new plants can be hoed or chopped.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Mar. 2025
-
The directors branch is notoriously snobby, which will be a tough row to hoe for Wicked’s Jon M. Chu, who got his start directing films in the Step Up and G.I. Joe franchises.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
In her next fight, Shevchenko faced ex-women’s strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant flyweight title.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
And several blocks of tunnel below Chinatown, dug half a century ago for the Second Avenue subway, remain a vacant, unseen taunt.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Yes Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Fort Worth: Served on Fort Worth City Council since 2023 Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding?—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Ahead of the match, Washington listed eleven players as unavailable, including star forward Trinity Rodman, who stepped away from team activities to address her continuing back issues.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Traders borrow to short tokens or increase leverage, long-term holders unlock liquidity without selling, businesses take loans to fund operations, and lenders earn passive yield on idle assets.—
Nina Bambysheva,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The research fellow who met me, Birte, was in her forties, and appeared as if she had been harrowed by her work.—
John Ganz,
Harper's Magazine,
22 May 2024
-
Plus, Shin Ha-young is given little to do in the second half of the series despite her effortless shift from warm third wheel to harrowed and weary abuse victim.—
Geoffrey Bunting,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share