pew

noun

ˈpyü 

1

: a compartment in the auditorium of a church providing seats for several persons

2

: one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors fixed in rows in a church

Examples of pew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue's oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025

People danced in the wings of the stage while fans roared in the Ryman’s pews, offering credence to the band’s title. —Chris Parton, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2025

There was another church pew—long, beautiful, severe, unadorned. —Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025

In 24 episodes, the series toggled effortlessly between sci-fi, action, and thriller, delivering a rousing message about the effort required to build a community and wage a rebellion while still indulging in the pew-pew laser-gunning Star Wars stuff that hardcore franchise fans want. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pewe, from Middle French dialect (Picardy) puie balustrade, from Latin podia, plural of podium parapet, podium, from Greek podion base, diminutive of pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

pew

noun

ˈpyü 

: one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors set in rows in a church