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

After Howard's gray casket, draped in flowers, was carried through the pews, Howard's family remembered their sometimes-stubborn patriarch as an avid reader, a devout, food-loving father, grandfather and member of his religious community. —Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025

The heroism of educators and staff who kept students quiet under pews and sheltered in a downstairs classroom is vividly revealed. —Michael Dorgan , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025

The judge gestured at Lindor to take a seat in one of the courtroom’s wooden pew benches. —Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 29 Sep. 2025

Debris piles have replaced pews; the welcoming church has closed its doors; and the churchgoers’ mounting grief has swelled. —Holly Yan, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 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