How to Use holly in a Sentence

holly

noun
Definition of hollynext
  • It’s the Lenox Christmas pattern with the holly and the ivy on it.
    — Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2022
  • The birds get food, and the holly trees get their seeds dispersed.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 5 Dec. 2019
  • Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
    — Sarah Kuta, The Know, 29 Nov. 2019
  • This season, deck the halls with boughs of holly—and bouts of laughter!
    — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, 27 Aug. 2019
  • The shrub forms of holly are by far the most widely planted in the Midwest.
    — Dick Crum, Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2017
  • Above those, tuck in short branches of holly around the entire edge.
    — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
  • The sight of boughs of holly and string lights can warm you even in the coldest temperatures.
    — Katrina Brown Hunt, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023
  • Many home landscapes do not have a lot of space, so this is a great space saving idea that has all the hollies with fruit.
    — Dick Crum, Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2017
  • Carissa hollies are ideal change-outs for the hawthorns.
    — Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 13 June 2018
  • The most tender holly varieties dropped their leaves as soon as the cold snap was over.
    — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 14 Jan. 2023
  • For a smaller holly that deer do not eat, select the dwarf yaupon holly.
    — Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Apr. 2021
  • Jump into the hammock and trampoline into the crotch of the holly.
    — John Kelly, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2017
  • Ready to deck your halls with boughs of holly, ornaments, and twinkling lights?
    — Kelsey Mulvey, House Beautiful, 28 Nov. 2022
  • Pale sand dunes covered in sea grass and holly trees are muted against the men in neon swim briefs who wander through them.
    — Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2023
  • Forcing the spike of an unlit firework into the cold, dry ground. Admiring the frost on the holly berries, en route to school.
    — Anna North, Smithsonian, 14 June 2017
  • Forcing the spike of an unlit firework into the cold, dry ground. Admiring the frost on the holly berries, en route to school.
    — Anna North, Smithsonian, 14 June 2017
  • Then cut the bows off and weave in sprigs of juniper, holly and eucalyptus to make the garland look fuller and more varied.
    — Tim McKeough, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
  • Ramos observed that the primary food of the bird in spring are the sugar-rich buds of the endemic Azorean holly.
    — Anne Pinto-Rodrigues, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2023
  • And sprigs of real or faux greenery like holly hones the ambiance of your tree to your entire living room.
    — Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2023
  • The list would include junipers, waxleaf ligustrums and hollies.
    — Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 26 Jan. 2018
  • At 9 feet long, the red holly berries and flocked pine cones rest along deep green artificial pine needles.
    — Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2023
  • Still, the easiest and best way to catch Hallmark’s latest holly hoedown is in the moment.
    — Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023
  • These two colors also represent the leaves and holly berries embodying the crown of thorns on Jesus' head on the cross.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2023
  • From the holly on the door to the mistletoe above their heads, they are surrounded by species with toxic reputations.
    — Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2016
  • Holiday movie lovers will not want to miss out on this holly jolly voyage!
    — Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 19 July 2023
  • Like hollies, a male and female plant is needed for fruit production.
    — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, 27 Oct. 2017
  • The classics are great, but not everyone’s holiday is decked with boughs of holly.
    — Dylan Owens, The Know, 3 Apr. 2017
  • Behind each window is a square of high-qual milk chocolate, stamped with a festive motif like holly or string lights.
    — Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 11 Nov. 2022
  • For the holly ornament, download the template (link below) and use it to cut eight holly leaves from gold-leafed kraft paper.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Plant it near the back of the woody plant border, perhaps behind Carissa or dwarf yaupon hollies that can provide dark evergreen foliage as a nice contrast.
    — Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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