hem

1 of 5

noun

1
: a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down
2
: rim, margin
bright green hem of reeds about the pondsR. M. Lockley

hem

2 of 5

verb (1)

hemmed; hemming

transitive verb

1
a
: to finish with a hem
b
2
: to surround in a restrictive manner : confine
usually used with in
hemmed in by enemy troops

intransitive verb

: to make a hem in sewing
hemmer noun

hem

3 of 5

verb (2)

hemmed; hemming

intransitive verb

1
: to utter the sound represented by hem
hemmed and hawed before answering
2
: equivocate
the administration hemmed and hawed over the students' demands

hem

4 of 5

interjection

usually read as
ˈhem How to pronounce hem (audio)
often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking

hem-

5 of 5

combining form

variants or hemo-
: blood
hemagglutination
hemoflagellate

Examples of hem in a Sentence

Noun shorten the hem of the dress the hem of the blouse was gold
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The waffle knit button-up has a curved hem, collar, chest pocket, and roomy fit. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 The slight high-low hem adds a playful touch to a maxi that’s still appropriate for so many occasions, including weddings, lunch with friends, or even a school meeting. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 22 Mar. 2024 Plus, the hi-low hem ensures a comfortable fit while hanging loose on the hips, and the side slits provide additional moveability on the trail. Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024 To nail the vibe, opt for visually-intriguing styles that are gathered at the hem or shoulder; with asymmetric detailing or cape-like overlays. Madeline Fass, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 When a stiff wind blew up her skirt, Middleton was scolded by tabloids for not properly fitting her dresses’ hems with weights. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 The V-neck wrap dress features cute ruffle short sleeves, an elastic high waist with a tie belt, and a pleated hem. Rachel Simon, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2024 The pants are a pull-on overall/bib style with adjustable shoulder straps, elastic waist and hem, and adjustable boot stirrups, which ensure the pant’s legs stay tucked in place. Maya Polton, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 This casual dress features a comfortable scoop neckline, fluttery short sleeves, an elastic waistband and a ruffle hem skirt. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
Verb
Stewart's stylist, Tara Swennen, paired the creamy cashmere garment, which is hemmed in brown, with a pretty silk button-down, buttoned at the collar only, and a nude bra. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024 It is hemmed in by Stanley Black & Decker on one side, by a Baltimore Gas and Electric substation on another, and Joppa Road and Jefferson Avenue on the others. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 The construction site hemmed in by large boulders, rocks and the ocean on one side and a steep incline on the other. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Cities institutionalize neocolonial segregation, with those of immigrant origin banished to dreary suburbs, hemmed in by brutal police and overseen by corrupt officials. Nabila Ramdani, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 And in the background, there must be the question whether there will have to be changes in the composition of the board in order to restore some of its credibility, changes with consequences that might leave Musk — how to put this — feeling hemmed in. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 5 Feb. 2024 The once almost 18,000-hectare Western Area Peninsula National Park is on a wedge of forest hemmed in by the country’s capital, Freetown. David McKenzie, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024 Imagine if Atlantic City in New Jersey were simultaneously hemmed in and backed by a high Nevada plateau, and if the two locales were connected by a two-lane switchback highway. Julia Shipley, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2024 The cropped jogger pants are perfect for every size, but especially for us petite gals who always worry whether the pant legs will be too long — no one wants to hem sweatpants. Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 15 Nov. 2023
Verb
Biden administration says Trump set the stage for Afghan collapse Despite admitting mistakes, the Biden administration spent the first pages of its unclassified report arguing that it had been hemmed in by former President Donald Trump. Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2023 Though the city encourages outdoor dining to add ambiance and verve to the square, the small restaurants, cafes and shops are squeezed together and their front doors are hemmed in by the narrow sidewalks that surround the courthouse. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2023 Some councilors pointed to the limitations of the strong-mayor system, which hems in council authority. Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2023 And state legislatures can act, too, though even there the Court may hem in their ability to, say, set mileage restrictions on cars—in fact, Republican attorneys general from around the country have already filed suit in the D.C. circuit court to do just that. Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 30 June 2022 Try to hem them in their zone. Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 31 Mar. 2021 But remember, that extra $15 to hem a stylish pair of pants will make all the difference in the world, so just do it. Maverick Li, Men's Health, 3 Feb. 2023 Most of Legend’s preferred candidates favor ending cash bail, for example, and not pursuing charges for low-level offenses that disproportionately hem up people of color. Erika D. Smithcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2022 After attaching the tabs and facing pieces, all that's left to do is hem the bottom of each panel. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German hemmen to hem in, Armenian kamel to press

Interjection

imitative

Combining form

Latin haem-, haemo-, from Greek haim-, haimo-, from haima

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hem was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hem

Cite this Entry

“Hem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hem. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hem

1 of 5 noun
: a border of a garment or cloth made by folding back an edge and sewing it down

hem

2 of 5 verb
hemmed; hemming
1
: to finish with or make a hem in sewing
2
: to surround in a confining manner
a town hemmed in by mountains
hemmer noun

hem

3 of 5 verb
hemmed; hemming
1
: to make a sound during a pause in speaking which is usually written as hem
2
: to hesitate in speaking

hem

4 of 5 interjection
a throat-​clearing sound; often read as
ˈhem How to pronounce hem (audio)
often used to indicate a pause in speaking

hem-

5 of 5 combining form
variants or hemo-
: blood
Etymology

Noun

Old English hem "border on a garment"

Interjection

an imitation of the throat-clearing sound

Combining form

derived from Greek haima "blood"

More from Merriam-Webster on hem

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