sow

/səʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /səʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsau̇/ (ame, mw) · /saʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /saʊ/ (ame, ipa)

sow — verb

  • sowpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • sowshe / she / it
  • sowedpast simple
  • sownpast participle
  • sowing-ing form

1. to scatter or place seeds into earth where they can take root and grow into plan

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to scatter or place seeds into earth where they can take root and grow into plants

例句

Theo sowed carrot seeds in the garden bed behind the house last Saturday.

sow + [crop] seeds + in + [location]

Before the rainy season arrives, the farmers sow the rice paddies by hand.

同義詞
  • plant

    more general — can also refer to putting seedlings or bulbs in the ground, not just seeds

  • scatter

    emphasises throwing seeds loosely without precise placement

  • seed

    more technical; used as a verb meaning 'to provide an area with seeds'

反義詞
  • harvest

    the opposite action — gathering mature crops rather than planting them

文法句型

sow + noun (seeds, a field)

sow + noun + in/on + noun phrase

用法筆記

Can be used transitively (sow seeds / sow a field) or intransitively (It is time to sow). The passive form 'be sown with' is common when describing what is planted in an area.

常見錯誤

❌I planted the ground with corn.
✅I sowed the ground with corn.
💡'plant' takes the seed or plant as its object; 'sow' can take the land as its object.

2. to deliberately start a process that creates bad feelings, disagreement, or prob

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to deliberately start a process that creates bad feelings, disagreement, or problems among a group of people

例句

The manager's unfair comments sowed distrust among the team members.

sow + [negative emotion] + among + [group]

Rumours about layoffs sowed panic across the whole factory floor.

同義詞
  • cause

    neutral in tone, unlike 'sow' which implies deliberate intent

  • stir up

    less formal, suggests agitation or provocation

  • foment

    very formal, specifically means to instigate trouble or rebellion

反義詞
  • resolve

    to end a disagreement or problem, the opposite of starting one

  • heal

    to mend divisions or bad feelings

文法句型

sow + noun (doubt, confusion, discord)

sow the seeds of + noun

用法筆記

Object is always something negative: doubt, confusion, distrust, discord, division, panic. The expression "sow the seeds of" is a common fixed phrase meaning to start a process that will lead to a particular result.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher sowed good ideas in the students.
✅The teacher planted good ideas in the students.
💡'sow' is only used for negative things in its figurative sense.

sow — noun