Word
hewn
US/ˈhjun/
UK/hjˈuːn/
Definition
adj. cut or shaped from wood or stone with a sharp tool like an axe.
adj. cut or shaped from wood or stone with an axe, chisel, or similar cutting tool. Typically describes building materials, sculptures, or objects formed by cutting rather than moulding.
Examples
“They use hewn logs to build the cabin.”
“The old barn was built from hewn beams that still show the marks of the axe.”
“The chapel altar, hewn from a single block of granite, had stood for centuries despite wind and war.”
Examples
simple
“They use hewn logs to build the cabin.”
contextual
“The old barn was built from hewn beams that still show the marks of the axe.”
complex
“The chapel altar, hewn from a single block of granite, had stood for centuries despite wind and war.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hewn” in context.
Verb
01. hewn from granite
“The statue was hewn from granite with simple iron tools.”
adj + prep + noun
02. hewn from rock
“The monastery was hewn from rock by medieval monks.”
adj + prep + noun
03. hewn into shape
“The sculpture was hewn into shape over several months.”
adj + prep + noun
Adjective
04. coarsely hewn
“They sat around the fire on coarsely hewn benches.”
adv + adj
05. crudely hewn
“A crudely hewn cross marked the remote hillside grave.”
adv + adj
06. finely hewn
“The doorway was framed by finely hewn sandstone blocks.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. hewn beam
“A single hewn beam spanned the low ceiling of the cottage.”
adj + noun
08. hewn log
“Each hewn log was notched to fit tightly against the next.”
adj + noun
09. coarsely hewn wooden beams
“The ceiling was supported by coarsely hewn wooden beams.”
10. finely hewn stone cross
“A finely hewn stone cross stood in the churchyard.”
11. hewn from a single block
“The font was hewn from a single block of limestone.”
12. hewn from solid rock
“The ancient temple was hewn from solid rock.”
Real-World Examples
“A tour at Onkalo, which lies 450m (1,480ft) below the ground, to see tunnels hewn in the living rock to store highly radioactive waste for 100,000 years, suddenly makes me nervous.” Etymology
Morphologically hew + -n.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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