1
: a young tree
specifically
: one not over four inches (about 10 centimeters) in diameter at breast height
2
Examples of sapling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the other hand, a new sapling begins removing carbon from the air the first day it’s planted.
—
Yishan Wong, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
The trio stood around a spindly sapling and took turns ceremoniously shoveling soil on its roots.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2023
Yet, despite the growing popularity of tree-planting, in many cases simply putting saplings in the ground isn’t an ecological win.
—Popular Science, 15 Feb. 2024
The slash piles that covered the old roadbed—fir and spruce saplings that Cahill had plucked like daisies with the Cat’s claw—would provide shade and cover for future grasses, wildflowers and shrubs.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
For some, the hanging shreds of velvet that covered their antlers becomes a sudden irritation, and as the velvet dries and peels away, bucks and bulls will assist the process by rubbing their antlers against brushy vegetation and small saplings.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024
The vines, brambles and saplings growing where fields and pastures once stood pull the piles of stones apart.
—Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
As dragonflies and white butterflies floated about, Putnam noted that within a few years, many of the now 14-foot saplings would be as tall as telephone poles and the forest would be self-sufficient.
—Cara Buckley, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
The sapling that sprouted from the stump now stands about 60 feet.
—Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2023
Yishan Wong, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
The trio stood around a spindly sapling and took turns ceremoniously shoveling soil on its roots.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2023
Yet, despite the growing popularity of tree-planting, in many cases simply putting saplings in the ground isn’t an ecological win.
—Popular Science, 15 Feb. 2024
The slash piles that covered the old roadbed—fir and spruce saplings that Cahill had plucked like daisies with the Cat’s claw—would provide shade and cover for future grasses, wildflowers and shrubs.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
For some, the hanging shreds of velvet that covered their antlers becomes a sudden irritation, and as the velvet dries and peels away, bucks and bulls will assist the process by rubbing their antlers against brushy vegetation and small saplings.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024
The vines, brambles and saplings growing where fields and pastures once stood pull the piles of stones apart.
—Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
As dragonflies and white butterflies floated about, Putnam noted that within a few years, many of the now 14-foot saplings would be as tall as telephone poles and the forest would be self-sufficient.
—Cara Buckley, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
The sapling that sprouted from the stump now stands about 60 feet.
—Tiana Woodard, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sapling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sapling
Cite this Entry
“Sapling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapling. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sapling
noun
sap·ling
ˈsap-liŋ 
: a young tree
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