sower: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Literary / Agricultural
Quick answer
What does “sower” mean?
A person, machine, or agent that scatters seeds on or in the ground for the purpose of growing crops.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, machine, or agent that scatters seeds on or in the ground for the purpose of growing crops.
An initiator, source, or cause of something (e.g., ideas, dissent, change) that is metaphorically likened to planting seeds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spelling is consistent. Agricultural terminology is largely shared.
Connotations
Conveys a traditional, pastoral, or biblical image. In figurative use, implies deliberate, foundational action with future consequences.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in religious, literary, or historical texts than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “sower” in a Sentence
[sower] of [abstract noun: ideas, discord, hope][determiner] sower [verb: scattered, planted, went out]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sower” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farmer will sow the winter wheat next week.
- They sought to sow doubt amongst the electorate.
American English
- We need to sow the grass seed before it rains.
- His speeches were designed to sow division.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in leadership/strategy contexts: 'He was a sower of innovative ideas.'
Academic
Used in historical, agricultural, religious, or literary studies. E.g., 'The role of the sower in medieval agrarian society.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech. Might be understood in gardening contexts or religious references.
Technical
Standard term in agriculture for a person or machine that sows seeds. E.g., 'A precision air seeder is a type of modern sower.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sower”
- Mispronouncing it to rhyme with 'power' (/ˈsaʊ.ər/) instead of 'lower' (/ˈsoʊ.ɚ/).
- Confusing the spelling with 'sewer'.
- Using it in overly literal modern contexts where 'farmer' or 'planter' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is primarily used in agricultural, historical, religious, or literary contexts, not in everyday conversation.
A 'sower' typically scatters seeds broadly (e.g., for cereals). A 'planter' often places seeds or seedlings at specific intervals (e.g., for maize/trees). The terms can overlap, but 'planter' is more common in general use.
Yes, agricultural equipment designed to sow seeds is commonly called a 'seeder' or 'sower' (e.g., a seed drill, a broadcast sower).
Remember the core meaning: SOWer plants SOWs (seeds). A 'sewer' (pronounced /ˈsoʊ.ər/) deals with thread and needle, and a 'sewer' (pronounced /ˈsuː.ər/) is an underground drain.
A person, machine, or agent that scatters seeds on or in the ground for the purpose of growing crops.
Sower is usually formal / literary / agricultural in register.
Sower: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsəʊ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsoʊ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As you sow, so shall you reap.”
- “The Parable of the Sower.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A SOWER goes SLOWer, scattering seeds row by row.'
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE SEEDS; A PERSON WHO STARTS SOMETHING IS A FARMER/SOWER; CAUSING NEGATIVE FEELINGS IS SOWING WEEDS.
Practice
Quiz
In its most common figurative sense, a 'sower of discord' is someone who: