What does sewn mean?
Sewn is the past participle of sew and an adjective meaning made or joined together by stitching. It is used for describing everything from clothing and quilts to bags, upholstery, repairs, and decorative work. The word often suggests a deliberate, finished result, as in 'sewn by hand' or 'carefully sewn together,' but it can simply describe completed sewing: 'The button was sewn back onto the shirt.' Sewn is standard in both British and American English, although sewed is also a familiar alternative in some contexts. It is sometimes confused with sown because the two words are pronounced alike. Their meanings are distinct: sewn concerns stitching or making by needle and thread, while sown usually concerns planting or scattering. Knowing the difference makes the homophones easier to understand in reading and conversation.
The past participle of sew, used after an auxiliary verb or in a passive construction.
"The curtains had been sewn with a narrow decorative border."
Sewn functions as a past participle rather than as a finite past-tense form on its own.
Made, joined, or decorated by sewing.
"The doll wore a hand-sewn velvet dress."
In this use, sewn describes the completed work or the manner in which it was made.
Sewn and sown sound identical, but one describes stitching while the other describes scattering or planting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sewn come from?
Sewn is the past participle of sew, a word that descends through Middle English sewen from Old English siuwan, a Germanic verb. Related words include the German nähen and Dutch naaien, and the family also includes English forms such as seam and sewer. The final -n marks the participle, with the modern form developing alongside the older form sewed.
How sewn is actually used
Sewn is standard in formal and informal English in both British and American usage. It is especially common in phrases such as 'sewn shut' and 'sewn by hand'; 'sewed' is also used, particularly for the action of sewing.
Easily confused with sewn
Sewn means made or joined together by stitching, whereas sown means scattered or planted, as in seeds sown in a field.