Definition of sownext
1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sow the fields with maize in early spring, and the crop should be ready by late summer

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2
as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow first sow the seeds in potting soil

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to breed
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a malicious neighbor who sowed within him nagging suspicions about his wife

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sow The accurate answer to that question will probably not be known until midway through next season, when Wolves hope the seeds sown this month will have begun to bear fruit. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 This is a sharp example of the legal headache sowing chaos within one of the marquee sports of the Winter Games. Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 3 Feb. 2026 Give this a try, or like the rest of us, wait several weeks after sowing to expect the first seedlings. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026 Lighton uses these dynamics, instead, to sow a seed of individual rebellion. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sow
Verb
  • Mix equal parts white vinegar and hot water in a bucket or spray bottle, then apply the solution to an icy surface.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The scale of the war effort had necessitated the creation of a health infrastructure on American soil—spraying for mosquitoes near the front lines in the Pacific wouldn’t mean anything if soldiers caught malaria at home before deployment.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Dormant oil can cause phytotoxicity (damage to plant tissues from a chemical exposure) if applied during the growing season, which is why it’s applied while plants are dormant, usually in late winter.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Iowa Electronic Markets helped plant the seed for the modern-day prediction market companies that have ballooned into a multibillion-dollar industry, offering contracts on everything from the Super Bowl to the number of times Elon Musk will post on X in early February.
    Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Retrievers, initially bred for hunting, enjoy hiking and playing fetch, says Joey Morris, animal behaviorist and dog trainer at OverWatch K9 Academy.
    Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Jalen Sundell and Grey Zabel are Super Bowl champions because they were bred by one of the best FCS programs in the country.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • To serve, sprinkle parsley and/or celery leaves over top.
    Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The show was sprinkled with dance cameos including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba and Karol G.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The committee uses 12 criteria to determine who belongs in the field and where teams should be seeded.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Prior to Tuesday’s matinee, Whitman-Hanson (9-8) was seeded 21st overall in the Div.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Whisk together butter, Creole seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
  • As Balint peppered Bondi about senior administration officials’ ties to Epstein, the back-and-forth between them got increasingly heated as Bondi declined to answer her questions.
    Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Tigers were put in the awkward position of arguing why the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner deserved the lower salary—the arbitration process requires a three-person panel to pick one number or the other.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Instead, with ample contracts to put in play and the seeming need for a shakeup amid a recent 7-9 run that has Erik Spoelstra’s team trending toward a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in round — silence.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sow. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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