sows; sowed; sown
ˈsoʊn 
or sowed; sowing
or sowed; sowing
1
: to plant seeds in an area of ground
Every year we sow corn.
Farmers sowed the fields with corn.
We'll sow in the early spring.
2
: to cause (fear, doubt, etc.) to affect many people
Threats of war have sown fear in the region. [=have made many people in the region afraid]
They have been deliberately attempting to sow discord. [=to cause people to disagree and argue with each other]
Cite this Entry
“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sow. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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