hem

noun

\ ˈhem

Definition of hem

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down

2 : rim, margin bright green hem of reeds about the ponds— R. M. Lockley

hem

verb (1)

hemmed; hemming

Definition of hem (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to finish with a hem

b : border, edge

2 : to surround in a restrictive manner : confine —usually used with in hemmed in by enemy troops

intransitive verb

: to make a hem in sewing

hem

verb (2)

\ ˈhem

hemmed; hemming

Definition of hem (Entry 3 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to utter the sound represented by hem hemmed and hawed before answering

2 : equivocate the administration hemmed and hawed over the students' demands

hem

interjection

\ usually read as ˈhem

Definition of hem (Entry 4 of 5)

—often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking

hem-

combining form

variants: or hemo-

Definition of hem- (Entry 5 of 5)

: blood hemagglutination hemoflagellate

Other Words from hem Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hem

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of hem in a Sentence

Noun

shorten the hem of the dress the hem of the blouse was gold

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

With long balloon sleeves, a pleated hem and an assortment of fun prints, what’s not to love? — Dominique Hobdy, Essence, "The 'It' Dress of the Summer is Actually Perfect For Fall," 28 Aug. 2019 On pants, measure the waist, the inseam, and the opening of the leg at the hem. — Marc Bain, Quartzy, "There’s never been a better time—or more need—to buy your clothes used," 16 Aug. 2019 Best Field of Flowers: Elle Fanning Elle Fanning hit up a film festival in Italy wearing a stunning boho gown with gorgeous floral detailing on the sleeves and at the hem. — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, "From Hunter Schafer’s Preppy Fit With a Twist to Bella Hadid’s New Blonde Hairdo, These Are the Best Celebrity Looks of the Week," 26 July 2019 And while some would opt to update a nearly 40-year-old design—pull a hem in here, change the fastenings there—the princess happily wore it as-is. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Princess Anne Rewears a Look from 2007 for the First Day of Royal Ascot," 18 June 2019 High in the Himalayas, a heavy-coated dog trots behind the hem of a Buddhist monk’s robes. — Megan Molteni, WIRED, "How a 6,000-Year-Old Dog Cancer Spread Around the World," 1 Aug. 2019 Lay a shirt flat and fold the bottom hem upwards once. — Selena Barrientos, House Beautiful, "How to Fold a Shirt, from the Pinch Method to the Chest Fold," 24 June 2019 Instead of a frayed-hem vintage tee, consider going for a more polished, long-sleeve style. — Sarah Morse, Glamour, "5 Perfect Summer Outfits With Jeans, Courtesy of Celebrities," 22 Apr. 2019 On Vittoria [Ceretti] there was a jacket with an exploded rose at the hem. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "“I Really Feel Quite Lucky”—Sarah Burton Reflects on Her Magical Career at Alexander McQueen," 30 May 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Hollinshead Ward advises buying treatments with extra fabric in case more length is needed, then hemming them to fit. — Washington Post, "Unsure of how to treat your windows? Experts offer advice to dress them in style.," 3 July 2019 Britain had historically had separate electorates for Muslim citizens and reserved some political seats specifically for Muslims; that not only hemmed Muslims into a minority status, but fueled a growing Muslim separatist movement. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "The Kashmir conflict: How did it start?," 2 Mar. 2019 Its grommet accents carried through in the hardware-heavy piece, from the snaps on the collar to the O-rings holding the split sleeve hems together. — Edward Barsamian, Vogue, "Olé! Olé! Kendall Jenner Elevates Toreador Style in Paris," 23 July 2018 In the back gallery, Acero’s collages of fabrics, wrinkled papers, hemming instructions and faded writings overlap in oblong squares and rectangles. — Darryl Ratcliff, Dallas News, "Latina artists in Dallas showcase 'were told ‘no,’ and they triumphed anyway’," 25 July 2019 Its hemmed in by a large marina complex on one side and the port's breakwater on other. — Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY, "There's 'poop in the water' at America's dirtiest beaches. Is yours on the list?," 23 July 2019 Real estate professionals and developers acted hand-in-glove with racist lending policies, hemming black families into neighborhoods where disadvantages compounded one another. — Calvin Schermerhorn, Twin Cities, "Calvin Schermerhorn: Why the racial wealth gap persists more than 150 years after emancipation," 27 June 2019 If this was the NFL, or almost any other sports league, there would be hemming and hawing, lawyers involved, delays, obfuscation, platitudes, denials. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "Pacific Ocean? It’s the NBA and all its offseason drama that remains undefeated," 17 June 2019 The team had last been in touch with base camp on May 26, according to four members of the expedition, all British nationals, who had remained there, hemmed in by the heavy snowfall, and rescued Sunday. — Fox News, "India halts attempt to retrieve climbers' bodies on Himalayan mountain," 23 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Regardless of the aspirations of the property owner and the ambitions of local residents, many courses are invisibly hemmed in by long-standing zoning and land-use restrictions. — Joanne Cleaver, chicagotribune.com, "When suburban golf courses close, residents and cities often clash over what to do with the land. Some manage to avoid the drama.," 13 Aug. 2019 In the back gallery, Acero’s collages of fabrics, wrinkled papers, hemming instructions and faded writings overlap in oblong squares and rectangles. — Darryl Ratcliff, Dallas News, "Latina artists in Dallas showcase 'were told ‘no,’ and they triumphed anyway’," 25 July 2019 Its hemmed in by a large marina complex on one side and the port's breakwater on other. —

hem

Definition of hem

Other Words from hem

Synonyms for hem

Examples of hem in a Sentence

hem

Definition of hem

Other Words from hem

Synonyms for hem

Examples of hem in a Sentence

WORD OF THE DAY