What does hew mean?
Hew is a verb meaning to cut, split, or shape something with an axe, chisel, or comparable tool. Its basic sense is strongly associated with chopping wood or cutting stone, but it is also used metaphorically for making a way by force or creating a course of action through careful effort. “Hew a path” is its best-known idiomatic use, suggesting that someone clears a route or establishes a new direction despite obstacles. The word has an old-fashioned, literary tone that can lend color to otherwise plain statements, but it is also used in modern figurative language. Its past participle, “hewn,” is especially vivid: “hewn stone” or “hewn from the rock” evokes material shaped through sustained cutting and labor. Hew should not be confused with hue, which refers to color or shade.
To cut, split, or shape something with an axe, chisel, or similar tool.
"They hewed the stone into a doorway."
The past participle “hewn” is often preferred in formal or literary constructions, especially when describing the result of cutting or shaping.
To make or create something by cutting, or figuratively to force a path or establish a course of action.
"The settlers hewed a path through the mountains."
The figurative sense is especially familiar in the expression “hew a path.”
Hew is the craftsman's verb: it describes both the forceful chopping of wood and the careful shaping of stone, giving us vivid expressions such as “hew a path.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hew come from?
Hew comes from Old English hewan, meaning “to cut” or “to cleave.” The Old English word belonged to the Germanic language family and is related to forms in cognate languages including German hauen, Dutch houwen, and Old Norse heyja. In modern English, the verb retained its association with cutting, especially wood and stone, while figurative senses developed around making a path or bringing something into existence.
Related word forms
How hew is actually used
Hew is literary and somewhat old-fashioned, but it remains idiomatic in expressions such as “hew a path.” The past participle “hewn” is especially common in expressions involving carefully cut or shaped materials, such as “hewn stone.”
Easily confused with hew
Hew means to cut or shape by chopping, while hue means a shade or color.