sew
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to join or attach by stitches.
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to make, repair, etc., (a garment) by such means.
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to enclose or secure with stitches.
to sew flour in a bag.
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to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches (usually followed byup ).
verb (used without object)
verb phrase
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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to join or decorate (pieces of fabric, etc) by means of a thread repeatedly passed through with a needle or similar implement
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(tr; often foll by on or up) to attach, fasten, or close by sewing
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(tr) to make (a garment, etc) by sewing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sew1
First recorded before 900; Middle English seuen, souen, Old English siw(i)an, siowan; cognate with Old High German siuwan, Old Norse sauma, Gothic siujan; akin to Sanskrit sī́vyati “(he) sews,” Latin suere; see also seam
Origin of sew2
First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French sewer, shortening of essewer, from unattested Vulgar Latin exaquāre, equivalent to Latin ex- “out of, from, thoroughly” + verb derivative of aqua “water”; see also sewer 1
Explanation
Sew describes stitching something together. If you sew up the holes in your socks, you use thread and a needle to close them. The word sew comes from the Old English word siwian, to stitch. You can sew a patch on a pair of jeans, sew a dress, or sew up a hole in your grandmother's old quilt. A figurative meaning of sew, as in the phrase to sew something up, is to secure something or bring it to a happy conclusion, like sewing up the plot in the last chapter of a book. Don't confuse sew with sow, to plant or set in motion.
Vocabulary lists containing sew
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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:
That has meant that tailor Ebrima Camara, 31, has had to sew using a foot-pedal machine rather than his usual electric model, as he struggles to complete orders for school uniforms for the new year.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
“I’m glad I’m not the one who had to sew them on originally!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
We have a big couch, and I sew while Jake watches movies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
PhD fashion students at DMU put on a workshop teaching pupils how to sew and mend damaged clothes.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Sitti said they would teach her how to sew and pick lentils and marinate olives and carry water from the spring on her head and speak Arabic.
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
“They sewed up my wounds and in the early morning I went back to our building,” Sillie said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Lee’s mom sewed children’s clothes at a textile plant before dying of complications from a hysterectomy at 35 when Lee was 16.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025
The surviving brothers carried on, wearing, Paul later recalled, American uniforms with French patches sewed on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
Ireland sewed up the play-off place in the group thanks to Troy Parrott's 96th-minute hat-trick goal handing them a 3-2 win over third-placed Hungary.
From Barron's ● Nov. 16, 2025
They filled the skin with baboon droppings, sewed it up, and propped it against the farmer’s door.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
What was designed to ostensibly be a great equalizer has only divided the world more, making animosity easily accessible to anyone who gets their rocks off on sewing discourse through cruelty.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
Research published last year suggested that, of a typical £85 shirt, £8.50 covers fabric, sewing and shipping, £37.45 goes to the retailer, £16.25 to the manufacturer, £9.50 on marketing and £13.60 in VAT.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Her sewing machine was there. She was in tears because it's broken now. So, well, it's a tragedy. But in my family everyone is alive and for that I thank God," he said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
My mother made all our clothes on a Singer sewing machine for years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
After that, Adek brought me more small sewing jobs for the lower-ranking soldiers.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Atop that, there’s a lush landscape sewn with 6,000 native plants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
It’s like watching stars being sewn into the fabric of the universe.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
The small-estate procedure does not simply eliminate the need to deal with real estate, and you already have that sewn up.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026
Both employees and visitors must wear coveralls with the pockets sewn shut to prevent the theft of even a few gold granules.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
On Thursday, November 9, 1939, I slipped into the high-necked white wedding dress with short sleeves that my mother had sewn for me, and Jimmie donned a black suit and bow tie.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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