sow
SOH
/səʊ/
To plant seed by scattering it on or in the earth.
Sow specifically refers to seeds, whereas 'plant' can refer to seeds, seedlings, or mature trees. Metaphorically, it means to initiate or plant the seeds of an emotion or situation (e.g., 'sow discord').
The story behind the word. The word 'sow' is of ancient Germanic origin, tracing back to the Old English 'sawan'. It is one of the most fundamental agricultural verbs in the Germanic language family, reflecting the deep, ancestral connection between language development and the seasonal cycles of farming.
Word relationships
- plant: Plant is a broad term for placing any flora in soil, while sow is strictly limited to scattering or placing seeds.
- scatter: Scatter means to throw things randomly in all directions, whereas sowing is a purposeful scattering of seeds for growth.
- reap: To harvest or gather crops, which is the natural opposite and conclusion of sowing.
Commonly confused with
- sew: Sew (pronounced the same way) means to join fabric with needle and thread.
- saw: Saw is either the past tense of see or a tool used for cutting wood.
- sow (noun): A 'sow' (pronounced 'SOW' to rhyme with 'cow') is an adult female pig.
Word family
- sower (noun): A person or machine that sows seeds.
Collocations
- sow seeds
- sow discord
- sow wild oats
- sow the wind
Idioms & expressions
- reap what you sow (you eventually face the consequences of your past actions)
- sow wild oats (to behave wildly or loosely in youth before settling down)
Example sentences
- "In the spring, farmers sow wheat seeds across the freshly tilled fields." Traditional farming instruction
- "His reckless remarks were calculated to sow doubt among the members of the committee." Metaphorical literary use
Memory hook
SOW has an 'O' like a tiny round seed. You drop the 'O' (seed) into the ground. SOW the Seed, REAP the Weed.
When not to use
Do not use 'sow' when you are planting a grown bush or tree; you can only sow seeds.
Fun facts
- The famous idiom 'sow wild oats' comes from the fact that wild oats (Avena fatua) are a useless weed that is highly difficult to remove once sown in a field of cultivated grain.
Explore more words
cultivate, germinate, foment, sprout, disseminate, germination
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