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

• bestrew
• dot
• pepper
• scatter
• spot
• spray
• sprinkle
• strew

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

Emil Nicolai Helms/AP The Animal Protection Denmark welfare group says that sows are bred in the Danish pig industry to produce about 20 piglets at a time, but only have 14 teats, forcing the piglets to compete for breastmilk, leading to starvation of many. —CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025

And some research has estimated that pork from crate-free sows, as required by California law, would only tack on about $8 to an average person’s grocery bill per year. —Christine Ro, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Verb

One workaround is to directly sow cucumber seeds outdoors or into their final pots when the weather warms in the spring. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2025

Trump, we have been told endlessly, has expertly gamed this new world, by weaponizing the decline of traditional news sources to sow division and distrust and, more recently, appearing on podcasts—both political and ostensibly not—that value vibes and authenticity over facts. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 9 May 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