sow
B1Formal and technical (agricultural); neutral (metaphorical). Also standard for the animal.
Definition
Meaning
To plant seeds in the ground to grow a crop.
To introduce an idea, feeling, or condition that will develop or spread in the future, often with negative consequences (e.g., sowing discord). Also, a mature female pig.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb 'sow' has two distinct homographs with different pronunciations (/soʊ/ for planting, /saʊ/ for the animal). The plant-related verb is strong (sow-sowed-sown/sowed). The metaphorical use is common in set phrases.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The past participle is more commonly 'sown' in British English and 'sowed' in American English, though both are understood. The animal term is identical.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
The agricultural sense is less frequent in everyday modern speech but common in writing, news (e.g., 'sowing the seeds of conflict'), and farming contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] sow [NP] (sow wheat)[NP] sow [NP] with [NP] (sow the field with barley)[NP] sow [NP] in [NP] (sow seeds in soil)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sow the seeds of (something)”
- “Sow (one's) wild oats”
- “As you sow, so shall you reap.”
- “Sow dragon's teeth (to create future conflict).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The new policy could sow discontent among the workforce.'
Academic
Historical/agricultural: 'The study examines sowing techniques in medieval England.' Metaphorical in social sciences.
Everyday
Gardening: 'I need to sow these carrot seeds.' Metaphorical: 'He's just sowing trouble.'
Technical
Agronomy: 'Optimal sowing depth varies by cultivar.' Animal husbandry: 'The sow farrowed eight piglets.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Farmers will sow winter wheat next month.
- His speech aimed to sow distrust in the institution.
- You reap what you have sown.
American English
- We sowed the whole back yard with wildflower seeds.
- The rumor was intended to sow panic.
- He had sown the field before the rains came.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable for this word.
American English
- Not applicable for this word.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable for this word.
American English
- Not applicable for this word.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The gardener will sow some flowers.
- A sow lives on the farm.
- They sow the vegetable seeds in spring.
- His lies began to sow doubt in her mind.
- The farmer has a sow and several piglets.
- The government's actions inadvertently sowed the seeds of future protest.
- We sowed the entire lower field with clover to improve the soil.
- The old sow was separated from the rest of the herd.
- The investigative report sowed profound confusion among the public, leading to multiple conflicting interpretations.
- Medieval peasants would sow their strips of land communally.
- The champion sow at the county fair weighed over 300 kilograms.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the difference: You SOW (/soʊ/) seeds to make things grOW. A female pig is a SOW (/saʊ/) that says 'OW!' if you step on its tail.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE SEEDS (sow an idea, reap the benefits). ACTIONS ARE AGRICULTURE (sowing leads to future reaping/consequences).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse verb 'sow' /soʊ/ (сеять) with noun 'sow' /saʊ/ (свиноматка).
- The Russian 'сеять' translates directly for planting, but for spreading ideas, 'распространять' or 'внедрять' might be closer.
- 'Sow' and 'sew' (/soʊ/) are homophones, leading to spelling errors.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'sow' (plant) with 'sew' (stitch) in writing.
- Using the wrong past participle ('I have sowed' vs. 'I have sown' - both acceptable but regional).
- Mispronouncing the noun (pig) as /soʊ/.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sow' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The simple past is 'sowed'. The past participle is 'sown' (more common in UK English) or 'sowed' (more common in US English). Both participles are correct.
There are two pronunciations: /soʊ/ (like 'go') for the verb meaning to plant seeds. /saʊ/ (like 'how') for the noun meaning a female pig.
It refers to a young person, especially a man, having many casual sexual relationships or engaging in irresponsible or reckless behaviour before settling down.
Its literal agricultural use is less common in everyday conversation but remains standard in farming, gardening, and writing. Its metaphorical use (sow doubt, discord, etc.) is very common in news, political, and academic writing.