pew

noun

ˈpyü 

1

: a compartment in the auditorium of a church providing seats for several persons

2

: one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors fixed in rows in a church

Examples of pew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a typical Sunday, 40 to 50 people sat in the pew, though more always crowd inside for weddings and funerals. —Arkansas Online, 22 Aug. 2025

Behind them, the youngest of the siblings, a 2-year-old toddler, carried by an adult, began to cry, as the others slid on to the wooden benches, which resembled pews. —Nicol Leon, AZCentral.com, 27 July 2025

Two toddlers are also in attendance, babbling and wandering in between the pews. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Instead of sitting in the pews of an Indianapolis church every Sunday morning, the family now gathers in their living room to pray to Christ while watching Mass on TV. —Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pewe, from Middle French dialect (Picardy) puie balustrade, from Latin podia, plural of podium parapet, podium, from Greek podion base, diminutive of pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

pew

noun

ˈpyü 

: one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors set in rows in a church