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noun Uncommon

dew

joo

Dew (noun) means tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces outdoors overnight, from moisture in the air. Example: “The grass was still wet with dew when we set off at dawn.”

noun
1
Tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces outdoors overnight, from moisture in the air.
"The grass was still wet with dew when we set off at dawn."
verb
1
To moisten something with, or as if with, dew.
"Morning mist dewed the windows of the parked cars."

How to Use Dew

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe fine water droplets that appear outdoors on cool mornings and evenings.

Common pairings
morning dew dew on the grass heavy dew

Word Forms

dewed past tense, dews plural, Dews plural, dews singular

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The grass was still wet with _____ when we set off at dawn.

Etymology

From Old English dēaw, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "moisture" or "haze," related to German Tau and Dutch dauw.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for dew

See all rhymes for dew →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “dew” mean?

The word “dew” means tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces outdoors overnight, from moisture in the air. In plain terms, the fine water droplets that appear outdoors on cool mornings and evenings.

How do you pronounce “dew”?

“Dew” is pronounced joo (/d͡ʒuː/ in IPA).

How do you use “dew” in a sentence?

Here is “dew” used in a sentence: “The grass was still wet with dew when we set off at dawn.”

What part of speech is “dew”?

Depending on how it is used, “dew” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “dew” come from?

The word “dew” comes from Old English. From Old English dēaw, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "moisture" or "haze," related to German Tau and Dutch dauw.

Is “dew” a common word?

“Dew” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “dew” have?

“Dew” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces outdoors overnight, from moisture in the air.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial