Pew Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms PEW 1 American

abbreviation

Biology, Ecology.

1. possibly extinct in the wild.

pew 2 American [pyoo] / pyu /

noun

1. (in a church) one of a number of fixed, benchlike seats with backs, accessible by aisles, for the use of the congregation.

2. an enclosed seat in a church, or an enclosure with seats, usually reserved for a family or other group of worshipers.

3. those occupying pews; congregation.

pew British / pjuː /

noun

1. 1. one of several long benchlike seats with backs, used by the congregation

   2. an enclosed compartment reserved for the use of a family or other small group

2. informal a seat (esp in the phrase take a pew )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pew

1350–1400; Middle English puwe < Middle French puie balcony < Latin podia, plural (taken as singular) of podium balcony. See podium

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sitting in the pews in Downey, the singer reflected on why he got into music and why Christian entertainment is on the rise.

From Los Angeles Times

Around the same time, as Black families began moving into Altadena and white families moved out, the church decided to stay and integrate its pews to reflect the diversity of the community.

From Los Angeles Times

Either way, Ms. Mun has us on the edge of our pew.

From The Wall Street Journal

Americans are going to the pews in fewer numbers, and they order delivery from their phones rather than interact with their neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal

“By staying put in that pew, a side is taken,” Jud insists to the parishioners.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.