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
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Recent Examples of fallow
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2025
The rhythm of nature is an extraordinary teacher; there is a time to be fallow and there is a time to be ripe.
—Bhanuj Kappal, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025
Joshua Partlow, Brady Dennis and Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 4 June 2023
Congress recently allocated $4 billion in drought funding that can be used to pay farmers to fallow their land and not use their water.
—Ben Tracy, Andy Bast, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Adjective
Honestly, the best chance a song might have is coming out strong next year during a fallow chart period and just dominating for over 20 weeks.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2025
The rhythm of nature is an extraordinary teacher; there is a time to be fallow and there is a time to be ripe.
—Bhanuj Kappal, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025
Verb
Thirsty cities increasingly look to farmers willing to fallow their fields and redirect water to urban centers.
—Joshua Partlow, Brady Dennis and Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 4 June 2023
Congress recently allocated $4 billion in drought funding that can be used to pay farmers to fallow their land and not use their water.
—Ben Tracy, Andy Bast, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow
Adjective
-
After a recent arrest in the long-dormant case, some agents say the barrage of threats persist — and not enough is done to protect them.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Following 26 dormant innings to start the season, the Giants had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth against All-Star closer David Bednar.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police say Ortiz raked Rihanna’s Beverly Crest property with an assault rifle, striking an Airstream trailer on the property, the singer’s home and a neighbor’s home.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Don’t rake or drive a vehicle through the area as forest floors are typically where morels grow.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Because of four early off days in their schedule, the Yankees didn’t have a need for a fifth starter until April 11.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Following an off day, RHP Michael McGreevy (0-0) starts Friday in Detroit against LHP Framber Valdez (0-0).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The $10 general admission during the Lilac Festival on weekends includes petting zoo, lilac maze, hoe down & jug band shows, lawn games, and lilac viewing.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Such haphazardly and closely planted crops could not be hoed, so other plants and grasses grew with the grain on the ridges.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Within in an hour of the first departure in Lantana, the helicopter nosedived through the roof of a vacant warehouse near the 3800 block of South Congress Avenue just west of Interstate 95.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
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And while the vacant Boise store remains listed for lease at 8249 Franklin Road, the interior of the soon-to-open Meridian shop has gotten a vibrant makeover.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Per 247Sports, the Golden Eagles star is listed as a top-15 running back in the nation.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
On Monday, March 30 Augusta National Golf Club updated the field for the Masters and Woods remained as listed in the field.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This is what led my friend and me to our idle accounting of new-media punditry.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The game against a 76ers team that was idle Sunday will decide the potentially critical tiebreaker in the three-game head-to-head series.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Before the big race, the track was harrowed, bringing it to a better and drier racing surface.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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