sew

verb

ˈsō 

sewed; sewn ˈsōn  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

ˌsō-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

sewable

ˈsō-ə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• darn
• stitch
• suture

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

In one glass case, a Kangol-like bucket hat, lovingly sewn by their grandmother, sits on a mannequin. —Michelle Mehrtens, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

One thing new is costumes this season will feature clues sewn directly onto them. —EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024

Jewels from that time period were often known for their luxury and versatility, with one piece having the potential to be worn as a necklace or as an ornament sewn into a piece of clothing, according to the release. —Amarachi Orie, CNN, 24 Sep. 2024

And lastly, that undyed fabric is sent to a nearby facility, also in Portugal, for it to be cut, sewn, and washed into garments using mineral dye. —Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

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

Phrases Containing sew

• sew up

Kids Definition

sew

verb

ˈsō 

sewed; sewn ˈsōn  or sewed; sewing

1

: to join or fasten by stitches

sew on a button

2

: to work with needle and thread