hem

1 of 7

noun (1)

ˈhem 

1

: a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down

2

: rim, margin

… bright green hem of reeds about the pond …

—R. M. Lockley

hem

2 of 7

verb (1)

hemmed; hemming

transitive verb

1

a

: to finish with a hem

b

: border, edge

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 7

verb (2)

ˈhem 

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 7

interjection

usually read as

ˈhem 

—often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking

hem-

5 of 7

combining form

variants or hemo-

: blood

hemagglutination

hemoflagellate

hemmer

6 of 7

noun (2)

hem·​mer

ˈhemə(r)

plural -s

: one that hems

a

: a worker who makes hems by hand or machine

b

: a sewing machine attachment for turning under and stitching hems

c

: a tool for turning over the edge of sheet metal

hemmer

7 of 7

noun (3)

"

plural -s

: one that hems in speech

Synonyms of hem

Noun (1)

• edge
• circumference
• perimeter
• edging
• border
• confines
• boundary
• skirt
• rim
• end

Verb (1)

• house
• wall (in)
• box (in)
• fence (in)
• include

Examples of hem in a Sentence

Noun (1)

shorten the hem of the dress

the hem of the blouse was gold

Verb (1)

a village hemmed in on all sides by mountains

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Puff sleeves, a scalloped hem, lace trim, and eyelet detailing give this top a soft, feminine edge. —Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026

This set consists of a cool, cropped tank top and cropped wide-leg pants—perfect for petites who don’t want to trip over the hem of their pants or pay for expensive tailors. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026

Verb

In the midst of it all, young children decked out in Algerian gear hemmed and hawed at their idols. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026

The cropped pant length is especially appealing for petite shoppers who are tired of hemming vacation outfits or dealing with pant legs that drag. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Interjection

imitative

Combining form and Noun (3)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English, from hemmen to hem, border + -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

circa 1525, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hem

• hem and haw

Rhymes for hem

• clem
• em
• femme
• gem
• phlegm
• rem
• stem
• them
• atm
• diadem
• ibidem
• meristem

Kids Definition

hem

1 of 5 noun

ˈhem 

: 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 

—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"