Sowing: meaning, definitions and examples

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sowing

[ˈsəʊɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

agriculture

Sowing is the action of scattering seeds in the ground for the purpose of growing plants. It is an essential part of agriculture and gardening.

Synonyms

broadcasting, planting, seeding.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sowing	Generally used for placing seeds in the ground to grow crops, especially in agriculture. Farmers are busy sowing wheat in the fields during the spring season. She enjoys sowing flowers in her garden.
planting	Putting plants or seeds into the soil to grow, usually involves careful placement and more specific to gardening and small-scale agriculture. We are planting tomatoes and peppers in our backyard garden. After digging the holes, they started planting the young trees.
seeding	Generally refers to the act of planting seeds, commonly used in agriculture and gardening. Slight overlap with sowing but often implies the initial stage of planting. The field is ready for seeding with barley. She is seeding her vegetable garden for the coming summer.
broadcasting	Spreading seeds over a large area by scattering them, often used for grass seeds or cover crops. Can also relate to media but exclude that meaning here. He was broadcasting the seeds by hand to cover the entire lawn. The gardeners are broadcasting clover seeds to improve soil health.

Examples of usage

The farmer was sowing wheat in the field.
She sowed the flower seeds in the garden bed.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

figurative

Sowing can also refer to the act of spreading or introducing something in a gradual or subtle way.

Synonyms

instigating, propagating, spreading.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sowing	Typically used in agricultural contexts or metaphorically to talk about initiating an idea or plan. It has a neutral or positive connotation. Farmers are busy sowing seeds for the next season She has been sowing the seeds of change in the community
spreading	Used broadly to describe the distribution of physical items, ideas, or information. It can be either neutral or negative based on context. They are spreading butter on the toast Rumors about the incident were spreading quickly
propagating	Often used in the context of spreading ideas, opinions, or biological reproduction. It can have a scientific or intellectual angle and is generally neutral. Scientists are propagating new methods of renewable energy She dedicates her time to propagating her research findings
instigating	Used when someone starts a process, usually with a negative connotation, often related to causing trouble or stirring up conflict. They were accused of instigating the riot He was instigating arguments among his coworkers

Examples of usage

The politician was sowing seeds of doubt among the voters.
Her actions were sowing discord within the community.

Translations

Translations of the word "sowing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 semeadura

🇮🇳 बुवाई

🇩🇪 Aussaat

🇮🇩 penanaman

🇺🇦 посів

🇵🇱 siew

🇯🇵 種まき

🇫🇷 semis

🇪🇸 siembra

🇹🇷 ekim

🇰🇷 파종

🇸🇦 زرع

🇨🇿 setí

🇸🇰 siatie

🇨🇳 播种

🇸🇮 sejanje

🇮🇸 sáning

🇰🇿 себу

🇬🇪 დათესვა

🇦🇿 əkin

🇲🇽 siembra

Etymology

The word 'sowing' comes from the Old English word 'sāwan', which means 'to scatter seed'. The practice of sowing seeds dates back thousands of years and has been a fundamental aspect of agriculture since ancient times. Sowing plays a crucial role in the food production process and has been a key factor in the development of human societies.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,090, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

...
10087 indoor
10088 beforehand
10089 pharmacy
10090 sowing
10091 unconsciously
10092 credentials
10093 proclaim
...