heron

noun

her·​on ˈher-ən How to pronounce heron (audio)
ˈhe-rən
plural herons also heron
: any of various long-necked and long-legged wading birds (family Ardeidae) with a long tapering bill, large wings, and soft plumage

Examples of heron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Alligators, turtles, herons, and egrets are often seen along this trail. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2024 Between the two areas are hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat, including for birds like egrets, herons and ducks. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2024 The film, from Japanese anime icon Hayao Miyazaki, follows 12-year-old Mahito Maki, who, while grieving his mother's death, is set on a life-changing path after speaking to a heron. Jessica Simeone, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2024 Mahito’s mother, the heron claims, isn’t dead at all. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023 The large pink wader’s appearance also highlights the beginning of the annual post-breeding dispersal of southern herons, egrets, spoonbills, and storks north into the piedmont of the Carolinas. Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The Boy and the Heron is quintessential Miyazaki in many ways, involving a young child on a solitary quest who is aided by a spiritual guide (the blue heron). Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2023 There, Mahito encounters a gray heron, who lures him into a surreal realm where the living and the dead coexist. Michaela Zee, Variety, 5 Jan. 2024 The heron is actually a shapeshifting man, and the huge talking parakeets and pelicans that Mahito encounters in the other realm are like humans, trying to coexist within two different strata of this otherworldly society. Maya Phillips, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English heiroun, hayroun, from Anglo-French heiron, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German heigaro heron

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heron was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near heron

Cite this Entry

“Heron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heron. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

heron

noun
her·​on ˈher-ən How to pronounce heron (audio)
plural herons also heron
: any of various wading birds with a long neck, long legs, a long thin bill and large wings

More from Merriam-Webster on heron

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!