sew
gb/sˈoʊ/ us/sˈoʊ/
B1
English
varr, megvarr, bevarr, összevarr, varrattal zár
VERB
B1
1
varr
A2
Usage pattern:
sew [something] (to/onto) [something]
She sewed the sleeves onto the jacket by hand.
Kézzel varrta fel az ujjakat a kabátra.
I’m learning to sew because I want to make my own curtains.
Varrni tanulok, mert saját függönyöket szeretnék készíteni.
He carefully sewed the two pieces of fabric together.
Learner examples
My grandmother can sew very well.
A nagymamám nagyon jól tud varrni.
I sewed a button onto my shirt.
Felvarrtam egy gombot az ingemre.
Common mistake:
Often confused with sow (plant seeds). Sew is pronounced like “so”.
Meaning
join fabric with stitches
Collocations
sew a seam
|sew two pieces together
|sew by hand
|sew with a sewing machine
|sew a button
|sew on a patch
|sew a hem
|sew fabric
|sew the lining in
|sew the edges
Synonyms
stitch (General word for making stitches; can be smaller-scale than sew.)
|
hem (Specific to sewing the bottom/edge of clothing.)
|
mend (Focuses on repairing rather than joining pieces.)
Antonyms
rip (To tear something open, undoing stitches.)
|
tear (To pull material apart by force.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|crafts
Definition
To join cloth with a needle and thread.
To join or attach pieces of fabric or similar material by making stitches with a needle and thread (or a sewing machine).
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
sew [something]
She sewed a simple cotton dress for the summer.
Varrt egy egyszerű pamutruhát nyárra.
They sewed the costumes for the school play.
Megvarrták a jelmezeket az iskolai előadásra.
I sewed a quilt as a wedding gift.
Learner examples
I sewed a bag from old jeans.
Régi farmerből varrtam egy táskát.
She sews her own clothes.
Saját magának varrja a ruháit.
Common mistake:
Learners may say do a dress; more natural is sew a dress or make a dress.
Meaning
make clothing or items
Collocations
sew a dress
|sew a skirt
|sew a shirt
|sew a costume
|sew a quilt
|sew a bag
|sew curtains
|sew a pillowcase
|sew baby clothes
|sew a mask
Synonyms
make (Much broader; not specific to fabric or stitching.)
|
tailor (More specialized; usually making/altering fitted clothes.)
Antonyms
unpick (To undo stitches (British English), the opposite of sewing something together.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|crafts
Definition
To make something from cloth by stitching pieces together.
To make clothes or other fabric items by cutting and stitching material together.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
sew [something] (up)
Can you sew this hole in my sock?
Be tudnád varrni ezt a lyukat a zoknimon?
He sewed up the rip in his backpack before the trip.
Az út előtt összevarrta a szakadást a hátizsákján.
I need to sew the pocket back onto my coat.
Learner examples
I sewed the tear in my jeans.
Bevarrtam a szakadást a farmeromon.
She can sew up small holes.
Be tud varrni kisebb lyukakat.
Common mistake:
Sew up can be literal here (repair a rip) but also has a separate figurative meaning (“settle/secure”).
Meaning
repair by stitching
Collocations
sew up a tear
|sew up a hole
|sew a rip
|sew a pocket back on
|sew up a split seam
|sew up a loose hem
|sew the lining back
|sew a patch over a hole
|sew a strap back on
|sew the zipper back in
Synonyms
mend (Common general verb for repairing clothing or fabric.)
|
patch (Emphasizes adding a piece of fabric over a hole.)
|
stitch up (Often used for repairing a split or opening with stitches.)
Antonyms
damage (To harm the item rather than repair it.)
|
tear (To create or worsen a rip.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|crafts
Definition
To fix a tear or hole with stitches.
To repair a tear, hole, or loose part in fabric by stitching it back together.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
4
összevarr
B2
Usage pattern:
sew [something] (up)
The doctor sewed the cut closed with six stitches.
Az orvos hat öltéssel összevarrta a vágást.
They had to sew up the wound to stop the bleeding.
Össze kellett varrniuk a sebet, hogy elállítsák a vérzést.
After the operation, the surgeon sewed the incision carefully.
Learner examples
The nurse stitched up my finger.
Az ápolónő összevarrta az ujjam.
The doctor sewed up the cut.
Az orvos összevarrta a vágást.
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, people often say stitch up rather than sew up for injuries.
Meaning
close a cut with stitches
Collocations
sew up a wound
|sew up a cut
|sew the skin
|sew the incision closed
|sew the wound shut
|sew the tear in the tissue
Synonyms
stitch (Most common verb for closing a wound with stitches.)
|
suture (More medical and technical than sew.)
Antonyms
open (To make the cut or incision not closed.)
Themes
health
|medical
Definition
(Of a doctor) to close a cut with stitches.
To close a cut in the skin by stitching it with surgical thread.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sew
IPA
GB/sˈoʊ/
US/sˈoʊ/
Syllables & stress
sew (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sew)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: sew
- 3rd Person Singular: sews
- Present Participle: sewing
- Past: sewed
- Past Participle: sewn
Expressions
sew in
1/sˈoʊ ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
attach inside with stitches
To sew something inside clothing (like a label or lining).
Examples
- She sewed in a new lining to make the coat warmer.
- Remember to sew the label in before you close the seam.
- The tailor sewed it in so it wouldn’t show.
Learner examples
- She sewed it in.
- I sewed in a label.
sew on
1/sˈoʊ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
attach by sewing
To fix something onto cloth with stitches.
Examples
- I need to sew on a new button.
- She sewed the patch on the sleeve.
- Could you sew it on for me?
Learner examples
- I sewed it on.
- He sewed a badge on his bag.
sew together
1/sˈoʊ təɡˈɛðɚ/
phrasal verb
join pieces by sewing
To join pieces of cloth with stitches.
Examples
- Sew the two pieces together along the edge.
- She sewed together scraps of fabric to make a quilt.
- Once you sew them together, the seam will be hidden.
Learner examples
- Sew the pieces together.
- We sewed two squares together.
sew up
1/sˈoʊ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
settle or secure completely
To make something certain or completely finished.
Examples
- If we agree on the price today, we can sew up the deal by Friday.
- With two goals in the last ten minutes, they sewed up the win.
- A few more details and we’ll have the whole plan sewn up.