Pew

Quick meaning: Pew is a noun meaning One of the long benches in a church, seating several persons, usually fixed to the floor and facing the chancel.

Meaning

One of the long benches in a church, seating several persons, usually fixed to the floor and facing the chancel.

More Meanings

1. (by extension, in the plural) The congregation of a church.
2. An enclosed compartment in a church which provides seating for a group of people, often a prominent family.
3. Any structure shaped like a church pew, such as a stall, formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in a theatre; or a pen or sheepfold.
4. (colloquial, humorous) A chair; a seat.
5. To furnish with pews.
6. An expression of disgust in response to an unpleasant odor.
7. (childish) Representative of the sound made by the firing of a gun, particularly a blaster in science fiction.

Example Sentences

Pull up a pew.

I think a lot of Americans are actually searching for a church that’s relatively apolitical in the pulpit and the pews.

In many churches some pews are reserved for either clerical or liturgical officials such as canons, or for prominent families.

The pews are filling up, notably with young people, Gen Z's attendance at church has quadrupled in recent years—from a small base, but the significance lies more in the direction of travel.

Word Forms

• pews
• pewing
• pewed

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include bello, bank, bio, headquarters, opener, seat.

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