sewed; sewn ˈsōn How to pronounce sew (audio) or sewed; sewing

transitive verb

1
: to unite or fasten by stitches
2
: to close or enclose by sewing
sew the money in a bag

intransitive verb

: to practice or engage in sewing
sewability noun
sewable adjective

Examples of sew in a Sentence

She sews her own dresses by hand. He sewed a patch onto his sleeve. I sewed the button back on the shirt. The surgeon sewed the wound shut. She designs her own dresses and sews in her free time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zoom in: The chaps feature shimmering sego lilies sewn with jewels onto white leather. Erin Alberty, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024 There was just one problem: getting the toy off Squishy long enough to sew it back together. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 In the second frame, Hudson has sewn pieces of red fabric on the figure's pants, shaped like droplets of blood. Adam Burke, NPR, 9 Dec. 2024 Her big blue glass eyes seem to stare right at me, and her mouth has been sewn shut. Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sew 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sīwian; akin to Old High German siuwen to sew, Latin suere

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sew was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sew

Cite this Entry

“Sew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sew. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sew

verb
sewed; sewn ˈsōn How to pronounce sew (audio) or sewed; sewing
1
: to join or fasten by stitches
sew on a button
2
: to work with needle and thread

More from Merriam-Webster on sew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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