as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
the coal mine has been lying fallow since the drop in prices made it unprofitable
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Recent Examples of fallow
Laura Reiley, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022
Compromising probably would require money — perhaps tax money — to pay farmers to fallow their land and governments to build new canals and repair old ones.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 July 2024
According to Fox 13, agricultural producers can earn up to $390 an acre foot to fallow crops or enact other conservation measures.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Adjective
Many growers decided to fallow their fields and sell their water to perennial crops like almonds to defray their losses.
—Laura Reiley, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022
Compromising probably would require money — perhaps tax money — to pay farmers to fallow their land and governments to build new canals and repair old ones.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023
Verb
The picture arrives, of course, at a fallow time for Marvel, after a string of duds and an abortive attempt to introduce a new superhero phase following the climactic, stage-clearing (and absurdly lucrative) battles of Avengers: Endgame.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 July 2024
According to Fox 13, agricultural producers can earn up to $390 an acre foot to fallow crops or enact other conservation measures.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallow
Adjective
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This means your lawn is dormant and should be revived with watering.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
22 July 2025
-
Shipbuilding in the United States has been all but dormant.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
17 July 2025
Verb
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Opposing hitters are raking at .380 at sea level, versus .332 in the shadow of those mountain peaks.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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When seeding bare areas or reseeding, cover the seed with a very thin layer of soil, approximately 1/8 inch thick, by gently raking the area after spreading seeds.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Avoid wrapping leftover cut lemons in aluminum foil, which can react with the acidity in the fruit, causing an off flavor.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
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No team could use an off day than the New York Mets.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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One person whose voice stuck out for Fields-Black was Minus Hamilton, an 88-year-old who was hoeing the rice fields at the time of the raid.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
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To stay on top of weeds, plan to hand-pull or hoe down weeds early in the season when their root systems are still small, and then spend a few minutes weeding each week.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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As the area was settled, Papago Park was mostly vacant.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
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After hosting pop ups at Batch and elsewhere for a couple of years, Lit offered Fulco the vacant trailer space at Batch.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Evangeline Delgado, who is listed as the selling agent on the Zillow property listing, did not respond to a voicemail left on the phone number for her on the web page or to a contact form filled out by a reporter.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
25 July 2025
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The platform works with property owners to automate everything from listing properties and managing viewings to vetting tenants and coordinating maintenance, right down to scheduling a handyman or janitor.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Those with a relationship cash value of less than $250,000 can get 0.15% APY on their idle funds, while the largest accounts – those with $10 million or above in cash balances – can pick up 2.28%.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
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The music can sound surpassingly anodyne, built for commercials and idle, low-wattage daydreaming.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
17 July 2025
Verb
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Before the big race, the track was harrowed, bringing it to a better and drier racing surface.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
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The research fellow who met me, Birte, was in her forties, and appeared as if she had been harrowed by her work.—
John Ganz,
Harper's Magazine,
22 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallow. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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