sewed; sewn ˈsōn How to pronounce sew (audio) or sewed; sewing
Synonyms of sewnext

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 noun
sewable adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It was known that her mother sewed her sequin-heavy competition dresses, and the outfits were viewed as garish, especially when compared to Kerrigan’s understated ensembles—designed by Vera Wang, no less. Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026 Weezie towels have a hanging loop sewn into the piping to help aid the drying experience, says Eichholz, but for towels that don’t have a loop, hanging to dry is still best. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026 Extra material had been sewn into the crotch to stiffen and add surface area that would help during takeoff. Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026 Nearby, buyers from British retailers such as Asos, Barbour, Next and Marks & Spencer, tried their hand at spinning cashmere roving into yarn or learned how to sew on a ruffle made from scrap fabric. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sew

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sew was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Sew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sew. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

sew

verb
sewed; sewn ˈsōn How to pronounce sew (audio) or sewed; sewing
1
: to join or fasten by stitches
sew on a button
2
: to work with needle and thread

More from Merriam-Webster on sew

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