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.
During the Vietnam War, anecdotal stories about American travelers sewing maple leaf patches onto their backpacks before heading abroad became a source of cross-border resentment, particularly given Canada’s strong opposition to the war. Ian Austen, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 In 2021, Fink's group successfully created the first fiber, sewn into a shirt, with the ability to digitally sense, store, and analyze a person's activity. Ars Technica, 26 Feb. 2025 Taurasi’s legacy will forever be sewn into the fabric of the Mercury. Ben Pickman, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 Then use the leftover fabric to sew on some handles. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Sew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sew. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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

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