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 of sew

• 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

To improve stability, the grass for the World Cup has been studded with plastic fibers, sewn in about every five millimeters by a machine that looks like a Zamboni. —Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

This is where Pope Leo will change into a chasuble that is being sewn at a workshop just for this occasion. —ABC News, 9 June 2026

Jane Greenwood’s costume design is impeccably period; especially fun are the children’s rustic outfits Maria has sewn from old curtains. —Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 June 2026

Slightly more expensive fabrics have several layers sewn into the lining to guard against most conditions. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026

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

Rhymes for sew

• beau
• beaut
• beaux
• blow
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

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