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
Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
The mound forming the double grave was made up of earth, leaves, small trees, and logs, all scraped over the bodies by the grizzly’s clam-rake paws, and topped with logs six to eight inches in diameter.
—Tom Stacer, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Tom Stacer, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Trump’s bully, no longer just pawing the dirt, has begun his onslaught.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paw
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Noun
Resting her head on her hip, and with her paw splayed out across her lap, Summer looks up lovingly towards Elianna.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
The mound forming the double grave was made up of earth, leaves, small trees, and logs, all scraped over the bodies by the grizzly’s clam-rake paws, and topped with logs six to eight inches in diameter.
—Tom Stacer, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
Straight ahead, not more than 125 feet away, a huge bear stood on its hind legs, pawing over a large dirt mound.
—Tom Stacer, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Trump’s bully, no longer just pawing the dirt, has begun his onslaught.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paw
Cite this Entry
“Paw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paw. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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
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