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
Steven M. Wise, Foreign Affairs, 11 July 2016
The media assets of the Russian state sow chaos and spread lies from New York to Nottingham.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 May 2024
Eric Geller, WIRED, 5 Aug. 2024
State of play: Clyburn's remarks come as Harris has effectively sown up the Democratic nomination thanks to widespread support from the party.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sow 
Noun
Ten years ago, Smithfield Foods phased out its use of hog gestation crates, metal enclosures with concrete floors in which breeding sows may spend nearly their entire adult lives.
—Steven M. Wise, Foreign Affairs, 11 July 2016
The media assets of the Russian state sow chaos and spread lies from New York to Nottingham.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 May 2024
Verb
The report fails to acknowledge the seriousness of adversaries’ efforts to sow chaos in the US, according to Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a conservative-leaning think tank.
—Eric Geller, WIRED, 5 Aug. 2024
State of play: Clyburn's remarks come as Harris has effectively sown up the Democratic nomination thanks to widespread support from the party.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sow
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 18 Aug. 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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