mown: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to slightly formal/technical, common in written descriptions of agriculture, gardening, and landscaping.
Quick answer
What does “mown” mean?
The past participle of 'mow' (to cut down grass, crops, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past participle of 'mow' (to cut down grass, crops, etc., with a machine or blade). Describes something that has been cut this way.
Can also describe something figuratively cut down or cleared in a rapid, sweeping manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'mown' is more consistently used as the past participle and adjective. In American English, 'mowed' is more frequently used for both the simple past and past participle, though 'mown' remains correct, especially adjectivally.
Connotations
Slightly more traditional or literary in American use; standard in British use.
Frequency
Higher frequency in British English texts; lower but still present in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “mown” in a Sentence
BE + mown (The grass was mown yesterday.)HAVE + mown + object (We have mown the meadow.)mown + noun (mown stubble)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mown” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cricket pitch has been mown to a precise height.
- They haven't mown the churchyard yet this week.
American English
- The fields had been mown for hay last July.
- Have you mown the back acre?
adjective
British English
- The scent of mown grass filled the summer air.
- They picnicked on a stretch of mown turf.
American English
- The mown path through the prairie made for easy walking.
- He sells bales of mown alfalfa.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in landscaping or agriculture-related businesses.
Academic
Used in agricultural science, ecology, and historical descriptions of farming.
Everyday
Common in descriptions of gardens, parks, and rural scenery.
Technical
Used in agronomy, turf management, and horticulture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mown”
- Using 'mowed' as an adjective (e.g., 'the mowed grass' is less standard).
- Confusing 'mown' with 'moan' (a complaint).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct past participles of 'mow'. 'Mowed' is more common for the verb tense in American English, while 'mown' is often preferred as an adjective ('mown grass') in both dialects.
Traditionally, the simple past is 'mowed'. While 'mown' is occasionally found, especially in dialects or older texts, 'mowed' is the standard form for the simple past.
'Mown' specifically refers to cutting grass, grain, or a similar crop with a sweeping motion, typically using a scythe or lawnmower. 'Cut' is a general term for separating with a sharp instrument and can refer to any material.
When used attributively before a noun (e.g., 'new-mown hay'), it is traditionally hyphenated. When used predicatively (e.g., 'The hay was new mown'), it is not. However, hyphenation is becoming less strict.
Mown is usually neutral to slightly formal/technical, common in written descriptions of agriculture, gardening, and landscaping. in register.
Mown: in British English it is pronounced /məʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /moʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The smell of mown grass (evokes summer, nostalgia).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Mown' sounds like 'own' - you *own* a lawn after it's been *mown*.
Conceptual Metaphor
CUTTING IS ORDERING (The mown field represents human control over nature).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'mown' used correctly as an adjective?