What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sow
Example
She decided to sow some wildflowers in her garden. [sow: verb]
Example
The politician tried to sow doubt in the minds of voters about his opponent. [sow: verb]
Example
The company plans to sow the seeds of innovation by investing in research and development. [sow: verb]
seed
Example
He planted the tomato seeds in the garden. [seed: noun]
Example
She seeded the lawn with a special blend of grass. [seeded: verb]
Example
The book explores the seeds of the feminist movement in the early 20th century. [seeds: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Seed is more commonly used than sow in everyday language. Seed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sow is less common and is typically used in agricultural or gardening contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sow and seed?
Both sow and seed are relatively formal words, but seed may be slightly more common in informal contexts due to its versatility.
