sew
soh
Sew (verb) means to join or repair fabric by passing thread through it with a needle. Example: “She learned to sew her own clothes as a teenager.”
verb
1
To join or repair fabric by passing thread through it with a needle.
"She learned to sew her own clothes as a teenager."
"He sewed a patch over the hole in his jeans."
"Balls were first made of grass or leaves held together by strings, and later of pieces of animal skin sewn together and stuffed with feathers or hay."
How to use sew
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo use a needle and thread to join or mend fabric.
Common mistake
Past tense is sewed; the past participle is usually sewn (though sewed also works): "She has sewn/sewed this dress herself."
Common pairings
sew a button
sew a seam
sew by hand
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Word forms
- Plural
- sews
- Third person singular
- sews
- Past tense
- sewed, sewn, sewen
- Archaic forms
- sewest, sewedst, seweth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She learned to _____ her own clothes as a teenager.
Etymology
From Old English siwian, "to sew, stitch, join together," from a Proto-Germanic root also giving us the word seam.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sew” mean?
The word “sew” means to join or repair fabric by passing thread through it with a needle. In plain terms, to use a needle and thread to join or mend fabric.
How do you pronounce “sew”?
“Sew” is pronounced soh (/soʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sew” in a sentence?
Here is “sew” used in a sentence: “She learned to sew her own clothes as a teenager.”
What is another word for “sew”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sew” include stitch.
What part of speech is “sew”?
“Sew” is a verb.
Where does the word “sew” come from?
The word “sew” comes from Old English. From Old English siwian, "to sew, stitch, join together," from a Proto-Germanic root also giving us the word seam.
Is “sew” a common word?
“Sew” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
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