Definition of sownext
1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sow the fields with maize in early spring, and the crop should be ready by late summer

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2
as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow first sow the seeds in potting soil

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3
as in to breed
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a malicious neighbor who sowed within him nagging suspicions about his wife

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sow Its proxies sow chaos across the region. Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026 This change has already sown confusion, fear, and disruption for thousands of retirees, like me, who depend on consistent, reliable care. Maryann Berto, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026 They are usually directly sown four to six weeks before the final frost. Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026 Words build narratives, and narratives sow the seeds of revolution. Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sow
Verb
  • The latter was used to produce Agent Orange, an herbicide sprayed by the US military during the Vietnam War.
    Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Mixed results Authorities in Iran reportedly sprayed clouds with chemicals over the Urmia lake basin late last year, seeking to boost rainfall to combat the country’s worst drought in decades.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Early fall or early spring are ideal times to plant Indian Hawthorn, providing ample time for plants to establish roots before the onset of summer.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The Boyle Heights project would enhance bike lanes and pedestrian-level lighting, as well as extend street curbs and plant more than 300 shade trees.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Birds wait years or decades to breed One reason the kakapo population has grown slowly is that its breeding is, like everything about the birds, peculiar.
    Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
  • These birds have wintered in Central and South America and are returning to breed.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Simply sprinkle coarse salt over the surface of the cutting board and use the lemon half to scrub it in.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Groff sprinkles this punchy, athletic syntax over a slew of intricate settings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Spring is the second-best time to seed cool-season lawn grasses, after soil and air temperatures begin to rise.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Pre-seeding While EMV levels may cool off quickly in the months following a launch, brands are increasingly drumming up pre-launch interest by teasing newness and seeding products to creators, in some cases, months in advance.
    Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These accolades were peppered among other call-outs, including a Venezuelan opposition leader recently freed from prison and reunited live on television with his niece.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Many of the pitchers at the top of this list have two fastballs and pepper the top of the zone with different shapes.
    Eno Sarris, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The company has since applied for a permit to put in 41 permanent turbines at the 114-acre site to generate electricity for AI data centers.
    Bracey Harris, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
  • The city commissioned a study last fall to compare costs after the sheriff put in a new contract proposal for 2026 that increased the city's cost by over 6 million dollars, according to the city.
    Joan Murray, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sow. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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