sow

1 of 2

noun

ˈsau̇ 

1

: an adult female swine

also : the adult female of various other animals (such as a bear)

2

a

: a channel that conducts molten metal to molds

b

: a mass of metal solidified in such a mold : ingot

sow

2 of 2

verb

ˈsō 

sowed; sown ˈsōn  or sowed; sowing

intransitive verb

1

: to plant seed for growth especially by scattering

2

: to set something in motion : begin an enterprise

transitive verb

1

a

: to scatter (seed) upon the earth for growth

broadly : plant sense 1a

b

: to strew with or as if with seed

c

: to introduce into a selected environment : implant

2

: to set in motion : foment

sow suspicion

3

: to spread abroad : disperse

Synonyms

Verb

• spray
• sprinkle
• pepper

Examples of sow in a Sentence

Verb

Every year we sow corn.

Farmers sowed the fields with corn.

We'll sow in the early spring.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The hounds quickly brought a sow to bay and got good, sensible holds on her ears. —Robert Easton, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2025

Over time, this sow had grown unafraid of me. —Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Verb

To keep your supply of dill going strong, sow seeds directly into well-draining soil into early summer. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

That triggered alarm bells for some medical associations, which issued contradictory recommendations, and also sowed confusion among pharmacists and other medical providers about the fall vaccine rollout and insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sowe, from Old English sugu; akin to Old English & Old High German sū sow, Latin sus pig, swine, hog, Greek hys

Verb

Middle English, from Old English sāwan; akin to Old High German sāwen to sow, Latin serere, Lithuanian sėti

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

Phrases Containing sow

• plant/sow a seed of
• plant/sow the seeds of
• self-sow
• sow bug
• sow one's (wild) oats
• sow thistle

Rhymes for sow

• bough
• brow
• chow
• ciao
• clow
• cow
• dao
• dow
• frau
• hao
• hau
• how

Kids Definition

sow

1 of 2 noun

ˈsau̇ 

: an adult female hog

also : the adult female of various other animals (as a bear)

sow

2 of 2 verb

ˈsō 

sowed; sown ˈsōn  or sowed; sowing

1

a

: to plant seed for growth especially by scattering

b

: plant entry 1 sense 1a

c

: to scatter with or as if with seed

d

: to put into a selected environment : distribute

2

: to set in motion : foment

sowing the seeds of suspicion

3

: to spread over a wide area : disperse, disseminate

sower

ˈsō(-ə)r 

noun