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Is meow ESM-only? Can you require() it?

CLI app helper

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against meow@14.1.0. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 10.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 9.0.0

meow dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (May 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.0.0, published Jan 7, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("meow") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and meow@14.1.0 declares Node.js >=20, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

meow@14.1.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("meow") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const meow = await import("meow"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install meow@9.0.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jan 7, 2021); it declares Node.js >=10.
  4. meow@14.1.0 declares engines ">=20", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: types are bundled; install nothing extra.
Latest
14.1.0 (Feb 20, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
9.0.0
ESM-only since
10.0.0 (May 5, 2021)
TypeScript types
Bundled
Node engines
>=20
Weekly downloads
36.7M
License
MIT

Does meow@14.1.0 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("meow") from a CommonJS file and import "meow" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("meow")import "meow"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsError
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import meow

ES modules (import)

import * as meow from "meow";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const meow = require("meow");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=20), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const meow = await import("meow");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=10):
// npm install meow@9.0.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (46 versions; the newest 46 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
10.0.0 – 14.1.0ESM-onlyMay 5, 2021
1.0.0 – 9.0.0CommonJSOct 12, 2014

Frequently asked

Is meow ESM-only?

meow@14.1.0 is ESM-only. meow dropped its CommonJS build in 10.0.0 (May 2021). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 9.0.0, published Jan 7, 2021; it declares support for Node.js >=10.

Which version of meow still supports CommonJS / require()?

9.0.0 is the last version of meow with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=10. Install it with "npm install meow@9.0.0". Every version from 10.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use meow from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const meow = await import("meow"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=20). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("meow") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin meow@9.0.0 (declares Node.js >=10).

Does meow work in Bun?

Yes. import "meow" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does meow ship TypeScript types?

Yes. meow bundles its own type declarations; no @types package is needed.

Links

Other esm-only packages

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