1
: the foot of a quadruped (such as a lion or dog) that has claws
broadly
: the foot of an animal
2
: a human hand especially when large or clumsy
pawed; pawing; paws
1
: to touch or strike at with a paw
2
: to feel or touch clumsily, rudely, or sexually
3
: to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof
4
: to flail at or grab for wildly
1
: to beat or scrape something with or as if with a hoof
2
: to touch or strike with a paw
3
: to feel or touch someone or something clumsily, rudely, or sexually
4
: to flail or grab wildly
5
: to search especially carelessly or roughly
pawed through the box of discount items
Examples of paw in a Sentence
Noun
The dog injured his paw.
Verb
The bull was pawing the dirt.
The celebrity couple was pawed by a mob of adoring fans.
She claims that her boss got drunk and tried to paw her at the company Christmas party.
A crowd of customers was pawing over the remaining sales items.
She pawed through her purse to find her cell phone.
Recent Examples on the Web
Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
However, being separated didn't stop them from engaging in a fight, hitting each other with their paws while meowing back and forth.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2024
The tracks were already well-rounded at the point of the hoof, showing that the bull had been pawing the ground.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paw 
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.
Noun
The bear costume, with brown fur, a head shaped like a bear’s, paws and metal hand tools to simulate claw marks, was found in the suspects’ home, officials said.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
However, being separated didn't stop them from engaging in a fight, hitting each other with their paws while meowing back and forth.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Despite an unremarkable mammogram screening just seven months earlier, the 42-year-old knew something was wrong when Rudy kept pawing at something on the right side of her chest.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2024
The tracks were already well-rounded at the point of the hoof, showing that the bull had been pawing the ground.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paw
Dictionary Entries Near paw
Cite this Entry
“Paw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paw. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paw
1 of 2 noun1
: the foot of a four-footed animal (as a lion or dog) having claws
also
: the foot of an animal
2
: a human hand especially when large or clumsy
paw
2 of 2 verb1
: to touch or strike with a paw
2
: to touch or handle clumsily or rudely
pawed the merchandise
3
: to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof
4
: to grab at wildly
5
: to search especially carelessly or roughly
pawed through the box of letters
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share