What does wove mean?
Wove is the past tense and an accepted past participle of weave, the verb for interlacing threads, yarns, or other strands to make fabric or objects such as baskets. In literal use, it describes the physical process of weaving: an artisan wove a web, a basket, or a tapestry. Figuratively, wove means to combine separate elements into a connected whole, often in writing, design, history, or conversation: the author wove several themes into the novel. The word often has a literary or traditional tone, particularly when used for textile work, although it remains clear and natural in formal prose. A useful distinction is that wove is generally the past tense, while woven is the standard past participle and the usual adjective, as in woven fabric. The word is also used in phrases such as wove through, where it means to move or pass through something in a complex or subtle manner.
verbWove is the past tense and an accepted past participle of weave. It means to interlace threads or other materials to make a textile, or, figuratively, to combine elements into a coherent whole.
- To make cloth or another object by interlacing threads, yarns, or strands.
- To combine separate elements into a connected or unified whole.
- To move or pass through something, especially in a complex or subtle way.
"The artisan wove a delicate pattern into the fabric."
"She wove bright threads into a beautiful tapestry."
"The writer wove several themes into the novel."
Weave has an unusual past-tense split: wove is the usual past tense, but woven is the standard past participle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wove come from?
The English verb descends from Old English wefan, meaning “to weave,” which continued through Middle English as weven. The form wove developed as the usual past tense, while woven became the standard past participle, although wove remains acceptable in some constructions. Related English forms include weaver and weaving; comparable Germanic verbs include Dutch weven and German weben.
Related word forms
How wove is actually used
Wove is somewhat literary or traditional compared with the more common woven. It can describe literal textile production and figurative acts of combining, integrating, or passing through elements. In formal writing, wove may be followed by a noun phrase as a past-participial adjective, but woven is generally preferred in modern usage.
Easily confused with wove
Wove is the past tense of weave and means to interlace materials, whereas wave usually means to move a hand or object from side to side or to greet someone.
Wove is generally the past tense of weave, while woven is the standard past participle and is also the usual adjective, as in woven fabric.