Illustration of wildebeest
wildebeest
noun
wil·de·beest
ˈwil-də-ˌbēst 
plural wildebeests also wildebeest
: either of two large African antelopes (Connochaetes gnou and C. taurinus) with a head like that of an ox, short mane, long tail, and horns in both sexes that curve downward and outward
called also gnu
Examples of wildebeest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp opens in August in the 580-square-mile Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, this dream of seeing millions of wildebeests, zebras and other animals on their annual trek will be a reality.
—
Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
As ever, the surrounding economic ecosystem for kids trying to make NIL deals will be populated by men like Blazer once was, feasting like hyenas and alligators on the migration of a vast herd of wildebeests.
—Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
One was a cheetah running down a wildebeest and making the most necessary of tackles.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 14 May 2025
There, the wildebeests come through first and eat new, softer vegetation, while zebras come later, eating the tougher, older grass.
—Michael Ray Taylor, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wildebeest
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.
Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
As ever, the surrounding economic ecosystem for kids trying to make NIL deals will be populated by men like Blazer once was, feasting like hyenas and alligators on the migration of a vast herd of wildebeests.
—Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
One was a cheetah running down a wildebeest and making the most necessary of tackles.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 14 May 2025
There, the wildebeests come through first and eat new, softer vegetation, while zebras come later, eating the tougher, older grass.
—Michael Ray Taylor, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wildebeest
Cite this Entry
“Wildebeest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildebeest. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wildebeest
noun
wil·de·beest
ˈwil-də-ˌbēst
plural wildebeest also wildebeest
: either of two large African antelopes with a head like that of an ox, a short mane, a long tail, and horns that curve downward and outward
called also gnu
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share