sow

sow — verb

IPA/səʊ/
KK[sˈaʊ]IPA/səʊ/
  • sowpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sowshe / she / it
  • sowedpast simple
  • sownpast participle
  • sowing-ing form

1. to place seeds into soil so that plants such as vegetables, flowers, or grain ca

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to place seeds into soil so that plants such as vegetables, flowers, or grain can grow from them

例句

Kian sowed carrot seeds in the garden beds last spring.

The farmer sowed the field with wheat before the rainy season began.

sow + [field] with [crop]

同義詞
  • plant

    broader meaning — can refer to putting any living plant (seed, bulb, seedling) into soil

  • scatter

    emphasises a loose, wide spreading rather than precise placement

  • seed

    less common as a verb; usually used for lawns or large areas

反義詞
  • harvest

    the act of gathering mature crops

  • reap

    to cut and collect grain or other crops

文法句型

sow + seeds/crops in [ground]

sow + [field] with [seeds/crops]

用法筆記

Can be used transitively (sow seeds) or intransitively (It is time to sow). Past tense: sowed; past participle: sown or sowed.

常見錯誤

I sewed carrot seeds in the garden.
I sowed carrot seeds in the garden.
💡'Sew' (stitching fabric) sounds similar but is a completely different verb.

2. to intentionally spread or start negative feelings, doubts, or problems among pe

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to intentionally spread or start negative feelings, doubts, or problems among people, causing them to develop or become stronger over time — for example, sowing doubt about a claim, or sowing discord within a community

例句

Hassan's constant criticism sowed seeds of resentment among his team members.

sow seeds of + [negative emotion]

The newspaper article sowed doubt about how safe the new vaccine really was.

同義詞
  • spread

    more neutral, less dramatic — the most common alternative

  • cause

    direct and factual — less metaphorical than sow

  • foment

    very formal; means to encourage trouble or rebellion

反義詞
  • dispel

    to make negative feelings such as doubt or fear disappear

  • resolve

    to settle a problem or disagreement

文法句型

sow + [doubt/discord/confusion/resentment] + among/between/in [group/people]

用法筆記

Almost always used figuratively with negative concepts such as doubt, discord, confusion, resentment, distrust, or discontent. Positive objects (hope, joy, peace) are very rare and sound unnatural. Past tense: sowed; past participle: sown or sowed.

常見錯誤

The speech sowed hope in the audience.
The speech sowed doubt in the audience.
💡In its figurative sense, sow is nearly always used with negative emotions or conditions.

sow — noun

IPA/saʊ/
KK[sˈaʊ]IPA/saʊ/