1
a
: a woman who has lost her spouse or partner by death and usually has not remarried
c
: a woman whose spouse or partner leaves her alone or ignores her frequently or for long periods to engage in a usually specified activity
a golf widow
a video game widow
2
: an extra hand or part of a hand of cards dealt face down and usually placed at the disposal of the highest bidder
3
: a single usually short last line (as of a paragraph) separated from its related text and appearing at the top of a printed page or column
widowed; widowing; widows
1
: to cause to become a widow or widower
2
obsolete
: to survive as the widow of
3
: to deprive of something greatly valued or needed
Examples of widow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
In a cosmic bit of serendipity, years later my first expedition was funded by Ann Druyan, Sagan’s widow.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 23 July 2025
The public version of her backstory is one of personal loss: widowed and left financially devastated by her husband’s gambling, she’s forced to raise her grandson after the death of her daughter in a car accident.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for widow
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.
Noun
In victim impact statements, Dobson’s widow and father-in-law have also condemned Nelson, who sold Dobson’s laptop, stole Elliot’s car and used the victims’ credit cards to make purchases at a nearby mall.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
In a cosmic bit of serendipity, years later my first expedition was funded by Ann Druyan, Sagan’s widow.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
The events leave Richard's wife Conchita (Alisha Boe) widowed with a son to care for by herself.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 23 July 2025
The public version of her backstory is one of personal loss: widowed and left financially devastated by her husband’s gambling, she’s forced to raise her grandson after the death of her daughter in a car accident.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for widow
Cite this Entry
“Widow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widow. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
widow
2 of 2 verb
: to cause to become a widow or widower
widowed by war
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share