widow Definition
a woman who has lost her spouse by death and has not remarried.
Using widow: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "widow" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She became a widow at the age of 35.
Example
The widow was left with three young children to raise.
Example
The organization provides support for widows and orphans.
Example
He left behind his widow and two grown-up children.
widow Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for widow
- relict
- bereaved wife
- grieving woman
Idioms Using widow
widow's mite
a small contribution made by someone who has very little to give
Example
Although she was poor, she gave her widow's mite to the charity.
widow's peak
a V-shaped point in the hairline at the center of the forehead
Example
Her widow's peak made her look more striking and elegant.
widow's walk
a railed rooftop platform on a coastal house, originally used by women to watch for their husbands' return from sea
Example
The widow's walk provided a panoramic view of the ocean and the harbor.
Phrases with widow
Example
The war widow received a medal of honor on behalf of her late husband.
a venomous spider with a distinctive red hourglass-shaped marking on its abdomen, or a woman who is believed to have killed several husbands or lovers
Example
The black widow spider is known for its deadly bite, while the black widow killer is a common trope in crime fiction.
grass widow
a woman who is separated from her husband, especially one who is living apart from him but is not divorced
Example
She became a grass widow after her husband moved to another city for work.
Origins of widow
from Old English 'widewe'
Summary: widow in Brief
The term 'widow' [ˈwɪdəʊ] refers to a woman who has lost her spouse by death and has not remarried. It is often used in phrases like 'war widow,' 'black widow,' and 'grass widow,' which denote specific contexts such as military service, crime fiction, and separation. The idiom 'widow's mite' describes a small contribution made by someone who has very little to give, while 'widow's peak' and 'widow's walk' refer to physical features of the hairline and coastal houses, respectively.
