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
sowed; sown
ˈsōn 
or sowed; sowing
or sowed; sowing
1
: to plant seed for growth especially by scattering
2
: to set something in motion : begin an enterprise
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
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
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
By disseminating misleading information about job opportunities or company culture, malicious actors can damage the organization's reputation and sow distrust among potential applicants.
—Siddharth Sharma, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Galante went out to intervene and the sow redirected its attention on her.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024
For 24 years, the critical distance and self-deprecating humility that separate comedian from character have saved him from provoking the kind of outrage his avatar so relentlessly sows.
—TIME, 2 Feb. 2024
That embryo is then transferred to a surrogate sow.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024
Because of that, the mature boars are solitary animals that spend most of their time looking for the next receptive sow.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2023
Officers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado Springs Police Department began a search for the 150-pound sow and her two cubs, and quickly located the bear, according to authorities.
—Gina Martinez, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2023
At the facility—a concentrated animal-feeding operation, or CAFO—pregnant pigs were confined to gestation crates, metal enclosures so small that the sows could barely lie down.
—Elizabeth Barber, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2023
Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
The Biden administration, which supports the deployment of Kenyan police officers to assist Haitian police combat ruthless armed gangs sowing chaos in the country, has faced congressional roadblocks despite pledging $300 million towards the mission.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Adapting to conduct this kind of agriculture—sowing spores that will grow into food—has also helped beetle species to exploit new habitats.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
These are just some of the ways that China’s influence operations have ramped up their use of artificial intelligence to sow disinformation and stoke discord worldwide over the last seven months, according to a new report released Friday by Microsoft Threat Intelligence.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Russia is brutalizing Ukraine and threatening eastern Europe, as Iran and its proxies sow violent disorder across the Middle East.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
From inconsistent communication to a lack of empathy, various behaviors that leaders exhibit can sow seeds of doubt and disillusionment among their teams.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nearly anyone can use it to sow chaos and confusion.
—Tobi Raji, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
You ever been born Caucasian and become basically African American by sowing cotton seeds, one by one, for miles, with your fingers?
—Alexis Wilkinson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Noun
Deadly attack on Moscow concert hall shakes Russian capital, sows doubts about security.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
By disseminating misleading information about job opportunities or company culture, malicious actors can damage the organization's reputation and sow distrust among potential applicants.
—Siddharth Sharma, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Galante went out to intervene and the sow redirected its attention on her.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024
For 24 years, the critical distance and self-deprecating humility that separate comedian from character have saved him from provoking the kind of outrage his avatar so relentlessly sows.
—TIME, 2 Feb. 2024
That embryo is then transferred to a surrogate sow.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024
Because of that, the mature boars are solitary animals that spend most of their time looking for the next receptive sow.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2023
Officers from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado Springs Police Department began a search for the 150-pound sow and her two cubs, and quickly located the bear, according to authorities.
—Gina Martinez, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2023
At the facility—a concentrated animal-feeding operation, or CAFO—pregnant pigs were confined to gestation crates, metal enclosures so small that the sows could barely lie down.
—Elizabeth Barber, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2023
Verb
Susquehanna has tens of billions of dollars at stake as lawmakers debate whether TikTok gives its Chinese owner the power to sow discord and spread disinformation among Americans.
—Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
The Biden administration, which supports the deployment of Kenyan police officers to assist Haitian police combat ruthless armed gangs sowing chaos in the country, has faced congressional roadblocks despite pledging $300 million towards the mission.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Adapting to conduct this kind of agriculture—sowing spores that will grow into food—has also helped beetle species to exploit new habitats.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
These are just some of the ways that China’s influence operations have ramped up their use of artificial intelligence to sow disinformation and stoke discord worldwide over the last seven months, according to a new report released Friday by Microsoft Threat Intelligence.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Russia is brutalizing Ukraine and threatening eastern Europe, as Iran and its proxies sow violent disorder across the Middle East.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
From inconsistent communication to a lack of empathy, various behaviors that leaders exhibit can sow seeds of doubt and disillusionment among their teams.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nearly anyone can use it to sow chaos and confusion.
—Tobi Raji, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
You ever been born Caucasian and become basically African American by sowing cotton seeds, one by one, for miles, with your fingers?
—Alexis Wilkinson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sow
Cite this Entry
“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sow. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sow
1 of 2 noun
: an adult female hog
also
: the adult female of various other animals (as a bear)
sow
2 of 2 verb
sowed; sown
ˈsōn
or sowed; sowing
or sowed; sowing
1
a
: to plant seed for growth especially by scattering
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
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