pew
noun
(in a church) one of a number of fixed, benchlike seats with backs, accessible by aisles, for the use of the congregation.
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pew
1 American
[pyoo]
/ pju /
noun
-
pews
plural
-
(in a church) one of a number of fixed, benchlike seats with backs, accessible by aisles, for the use of the congregation.
-
an enclosed seat in a church, or an enclosure with seats, usually reserved for a family or other group of worshipers.
-
those occupying pews; congregation.
PEW
2
American
abbreviation
Biology, Ecology.
pew
British
/ pjuː /
noun
-
-
one of several long benchlike seats with backs, used by the congregation
-
an enclosed compartment reserved for the use of a family or other small group
-
-
informal a seat (esp in the phrase take a pew )
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pew
1350–1400; Middle English puwe < Middle French puie balcony < Latin podia, plural (taken as singular) of podium balcony. See podium
Explanation
A pew is a long wooden bench with a back. You'll find many rows of pews in most churches. Some courtrooms have pews, but mostly they're found in churches, as seating for the congregation and sometimes for the members of a choir. After the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, pews began to appear in churches. Before that, they were rare, as sitting and listening to a sermon was uncommon. Many of these earliest pews were paid for by (and considered the property of) individual families. Pew shares a Latin root with podium.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Like nearly everyone I grew up around in this corner of Pennsylvania, Sundays in our house were a congregation in green, and I was the lone holdout in the pew, quietly pulling for New England.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026
This column is a sacred space, where consumers and not investors have the front pew.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Every Sunday, he would go from pew to pew greeting parishioners.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
Sitting in the pew, on its own, does nothing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026
“And also with you,” I replied before turning and walking back to the pew at the front of the sanctuary, where my confirmation class was seated.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
A 2018 study from the PEW research group showed, in Belgium, that of the 83% that say they were raised Christian, only 55% still consider themselves so.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2023
According to PEW, between 2016 and 2020, Black voters saw the largest increase in voter registration out of any other racial group in the state, with a 25% hike.
From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2021
The PEW Research Center reported a staggering 1.1 million illegal immigrants in New York City in 2016.
From Fox News ● Oct. 19, 2019
This week, polling by the PEW Research Center confirmed out mixed emotions about the subject.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 18, 2017
I don't want to fly in the face of an act of parliament, not I. If what you say is true - PEW.
From Plays of William E. Henley and R.L. Stevenson by William Ernest Henley
The pews inside the San Juan Bautista church in Urda, in the central province of Toledo, were packed, while dozens more people gathered outside to listen to the service.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
Along with the technicolor mural, Caland’s singular sensibility persists in scattered drawings, a bouquet of her preferred 30-inch paintbrushes and a pair of stiff-backed pews.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Still they say yes—freely, cheerfully, wholeheartedly—and the love emanating from the packed pews at the Cathedral of St. Agnes speaks to the hope these men represent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
They were placed on pews for them to take home.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026
He has us walk through the pews and pick up any left-behind programs, or tissues, or anything that should be thrown away.
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
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