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hem

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /hɛm/ · UK /hem/

hem means: The edge of a piece of clothing or cloth, folded over and sewn to keep it neat.

noun

SEWN CLOTH EDGEB2

The edge of a piece of clothing or cloth, folded over and sewn to keep it neat.

  • The hem is coming loose.
  • She shortened the skirt by raising the hem.
  • I caught my heel in the hem of my dress.

Common phrases: skirt hem, sew a hem, turn up a hem, uneven hem

verb

SURROUND AND RESTRICTC1

To surround someone or something so closely that movement or freedom is limited.

  • Tall walls hem us in.
  • The soldiers were hemmed in on all sides.
  • She felt hemmed in by rules and expectations.

How to use it: hem someone/something in (The crowd hemmed us in.); be hemmed in by something (The village is hemmed in by mountains.)

Similar words: surround, confine, enclose, hem in

Common phrases: hem someone in, hem something in, hem someone about

Questions about hem

What does hem mean?

The edge of a piece of clothing or cloth, folded over and sewn to keep it neat.

What is hem in other languages?

Türkçe: etek ucu · Español: dobladillo · Français: ourlet · Deutsch: Saum · Italiano: orlo · 日本語: 裾

How do you pronounce hem?

In American English /hɛm/; in British English /hem/.

How do you use hem in a sentence?

The hem is coming loose. She shortened the skirt by raising the hem.

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hem in other languages

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