haystack

noun

hay·​stack ˈhā-ˌstak How to pronounce haystack (audio)
1
: a stack of hay
2
: a vertical standing wave in turbulent river waters

Examples of haystack in a Sentence

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.
Both acoustic and visual detection methods must identify very small signals within a large amount of noise, the proverbial needle in a haystack. Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025 Not all towers have a haystack below them to jump onto, so you'll be forced to parkour down the side. John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025 Finding the few out of the thousands that can give actionable skincare insights is like finding a handful of needles in a giant haystack. Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Jan. 2025 On the morning of Dec. 21, 1832, a farmer found the body of a woman hanging from a pole by a haystack. Liesl Schillinger, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for haystack 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of haystack was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near haystack

Cite this Entry

“Haystack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haystack. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

haystack

noun
hay·​stack -ˌstak How to pronounce haystack (audio)
: a stack of hay

More from Merriam-Webster on haystack

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