row

1 of 6

verb (1)

rowed; rowing; rows

intransitive verb

1
: to propel a boat by means of oars
2
: to move by or as if by the propulsion of oars

transitive verb

1
a
: to propel with or as if with oars
b(1)
: to participate in (a rowing match)
(2)
: to compete against in rowing
(3)
: to pull (an oar) in a crew
2
: to transport in an oar-propelled boat
rower noun

row

2 of 6

noun (1)

: an act or instance of rowing

row

3 of 6

noun (2)

1
: a number of objects arranged in a usually straight line
a row of bottles
also : the line along which such objects are arranged
planted the corn in parallel rows
2
a
: way, street
b
: a street or area dominated by a specific kind of enterprise or occupancy
doctors' row
3
4
a
: a continuous strip usually running horizontally or parallel to a baseline
b
: a horizontal arrangement of items

row

4 of 6

verb (2)

rowed; rowing; rows

transitive verb

: to form into rows

row

5 of 6

noun (3)

: a noisy disturbance or quarrel

row

6 of 6

verb (3)

rowed; rowing; rows

intransitive verb

: to engage in a row : have a quarrel
Phrases
in a row
: one after another : successively

Examples of row in a Sentence

Verb (1) rowed around the lake Noun (2) stood in a row to have their picture taken three rows of eight jelly beans equals 24 jelly beans drive up Market Row and turn left Noun (3) a county fair that had a long history of bloody rows the combination of drums and shouting contributed to the awful row he had a row with his girlfriend yesterday, and now they aren't speaking Verb (3) the couple rows all the time, and yet they seem happy together
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Hiring people who are passionate about the product and mission keeps everyone rowing in sync. Lindsay Kohler, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 The Liberty way is about everyone—our players, our staff, our fans—rowing in the same direction. Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
To put Golden State ahead, Anderson drilled three 3-pointers in a row. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 In a time when many industrial stocks were beating and raising their outlooks, Honeywell lowered parts of its full-year guidance two quarters in a row. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for row 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English rōwan; akin to Middle High German rüejen to row, Latin remus oar

Noun (2)

Middle English rawe; akin to Old English rǣw row, Old High German rīga line, and perhaps to Sanskrit rikhati he scratches

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1767, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1582, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1746, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of row was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near row

Cite this Entry

“Row.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/row. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

row

1 of 5 verb
1
: to move a boat by means of oars
2
: to travel or carry in a rowboat
3
: to pull an oar in a crew
rower noun

row

2 of 5 noun
: an act or instance of rowing

row

3 of 5 noun
1
a
: a series of persons or things arranged in a usually straight line
especially : a horizontal arrangement of items
b
: the line along which such objects are arranged
planted the corn in parallel rows
2

row

4 of 5 noun
ˈrau̇
: a noisy disturbance or quarrel

row

5 of 5 verb
: to have a row : fight, quarrel
Etymology

Verb

Old English rōwan "to propel a boat with oars"

Noun

Middle English rawe "a number of objects arranged in a line"

Noun

origin unknown

More from Merriam-Webster on row

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