sown
B2Neutral to formal; common in agricultural, gardening, and metaphorical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The past participle of 'sow', meaning to plant seeds in the ground so that they will grow into plants.
Metaphorically, it can mean to initiate or establish something that will develop or have consequences in the future (e.g., 'sown the seeds of doubt').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb form. Can describe both the literal act of planting and the figurative act of introducing an idea or situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Both varieties use the term in agricultural and metaphorical contexts equally.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with frequency tied to context (agriculture, literature, discourse).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] has/have sown [object] in/on [location][object] was/were sown by [agent][subject] has/have sown the seeds of [abstract concept]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sow one's wild oats”
- “reap what you sow”
- “sow the seeds of...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The new policy has sown confusion among investors.'
Academic
Used in historical/agricultural studies and in social sciences for metaphorical causation.
Everyday
Common in gardening discussions: 'I've sown carrots in that bed.'
Technical
Precise term in agronomy and botany for the act of seed placement.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The farmer has already sown the winter wheat.
- Distrust had been sown by the previous manager's actions.
- Have you sown the wildflower seeds yet?
American English
- We've sown the entire back forty with corn.
- The rumor, once sown, spread rapidly through the town.
- They had sown the field before the rain came.
adjective
British English
- The newly sown lawn is very fragile.
- We walked carefully around the sown patch.
American English
- Keep off the freshly sown grass seed.
- The sown area needs to be marked clearly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The seeds are sown in spring.
- He has sown flowers in the garden.
- By April, all the barley should be sown.
- Her kindness sown years ago was now being repaid.
- The research has sown considerable doubt about the old theory.
- Having sown his wild oats in his youth, he settled down.
- The political campaign had deliberately sown discord among the opposition's supporters.
- The foundations for the crisis were sown in the previous decade's economic policies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SOWN sounds like 'grown' – seeds that are SOWN will hopefully be GROWN.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE PLANTS (to sow an idea), ACTIONS ARE SEEDS (actions sown have future consequences).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'sewn' (past participle of 'to sew' – шить). 'Sown' is only for seeds/ideas. Russian 'посаженный' can mean both 'planted' (a tree) and 'sown' (seeds); English is more specific.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sowed' as the past participle (non-standard: 'I have sowed' vs. standard 'I have sown').
- Confusing spelling with 'sewn'.
- Using 'planted' for all contexts, missing the specific seed-scattering nuance of 'sown'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sown' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sown' is the standard past participle. 'Sowed' is sometimes used informally as the past participle but 'sown' is preferred, especially in writing.
Literally, yes, for seeds. Figuratively, it is used for abstract things like ideas, doubt, or discord.
'Planted' can refer to placing seeds, seedlings, or plants in the ground. 'Sown' specifically refers to scattering or placing seeds (not full plants).
It rhymes with 'grown' or 'known'. In British English: /səʊn/. In American English: /soʊn/.