noun
Uncommon
hem
hehm
Hem (noun) means the folded and stitched edge of a piece of clothing or fabric, meant to stop it from fraying. Example: “The tailor took up the hem of the trousers so they would sit right at the ankle.”
noun
1
The folded and stitched edge of a piece of clothing or fabric, meant to stop it from fraying.
"The tailor took up the hem of the trousers so they would sit right at the ankle."
"She caught her heel on the hem of her dress and nearly tripped."
verb
1
To sew a folded edge onto fabric, or (in the phrase "hem in") to surround and restrict someone or something.
"She hemmed the curtains herself instead of paying a seamstress."
"The village was hemmed in by mountains on every side."
interjection
1
A throat-clearing sound made to fill a pause, show hesitation, or grab attention.
""Hem," he said, stalling for time before answering the awkward question."
How to use hem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the stitched edge of clothing (a hemline), or the phrase "hemmed in", meaning boxed in or restricted.
Common pairings
hem a skirt
hemmed in by
take up the hem
let down the hem
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Word forms
- Plural
- hems
- Third person singular
- hems
- Past tense
- hemmed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tailor took up the _____ of the trousers so they would sit right at the ankle.
Etymology
An imitative word — it simply mimics the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hem
See all rhymes for hem →Frequently asked questions
What does “hem” mean?
The word “hem” means the folded and stitched edge of a piece of clothing or fabric, meant to stop it from fraying. In plain terms, most often the stitched edge of clothing (a hemline), or the phrase "hemmed in", meaning boxed in or restricted.
How do you pronounce “hem”?
“Hem” is pronounced hehm (/hɛm/ in IPA).
How do you use “hem” in a sentence?
Here is “hem” used in a sentence: “The tailor took up the hem of the trousers so they would sit right at the ankle.”
What part of speech is “hem”?
Depending on how it is used, “hem” can be a noun, a verb and an interjection.
Is “hem” a common word?
“Hem” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hem” have?
“Hem” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the folded and stitched edge of a piece of clothing or fabric, meant to stop it from fraying.
