sew

verb

ˈsō How to pronounce sew (audio)
sewed; sewn ˈsōn How to pronounce sew (audio) or sewed; sewing
Synonyms of sewnext

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
ˌsō-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce sew (audio)
noun
sewable
ˈsō-ə-bəl How to pronounce sew (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of sew

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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.
Rowley said the relaunch uses the same techniques as before, using what was called California construction, or Opanka, where the shoe’s upper, insole and outsole are hand sewn and joined by visible stitching along the side of the shoe. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026 Rather than trying to catch up with the 21st century, the girls are taught how to cook and sew. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026 And, as the artworks show, before jeans, denim was sewn into a number of different types of garments, including aprons and skirts. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 Schools often relied on people who could sew to make outfits for plays, while dance studios needed recital costumes and other supplies, Amy said. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing sew

Rhymes for sew

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Browse Nearby Words

sevum
sew
sewage
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Cite this Entry

“Sew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sew. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sew

verb
ˈsō How to pronounce sew (audio)
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
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