1 B1 neutral
To close a tear, hole, or wound by stitching it with thread.
"The doctor sewed up the cut on his arm with three neat stitches."
separable
sew up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To close something by sewing, or figuratively to complete or secure something so thoroughly that nothing is left uncertain.
In plain English
To close a hole or cut with thread, or to finish a deal or win so completely that no one else can change the outcome.
What does "sew up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Figurative) To complete or secure a deal, victory, or agreement so conclusively that the outcome is certain.
"With two games left in the season, they had already sewn up the league title."
separable
3 C1 idiomatic neutral
To gain total control over a market, territory, or area of business.
"The tech giant has sewn up the streaming market, making it very difficult for competitors to break in."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To join two pieces of fabric together using a needle and thread until the gap is fully closed.
Actually means
To close a hole or cut with thread, or to finish a deal or win so completely that no one else can change the outcome.
Usage tip
The literal sense is straightforward sewing. The figurative sense is common in business and sports reporting — 'sew up the deal', 'sew up the championship'. Also used medically for closing surgical incisions.
Words that pair with "sew up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
deal wound contract championship victory market
How to conjugate "sew up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sew up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sews up
he/she/it
Past simple
sewed up
yesterday
Past participle
sewed up
have + pp
-ing form
sewing up
continuous
Hear "sew up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sew up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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