# dew

> English word · Noun · IPA /d͡ʒuː/ · frequency rank #14,511

## Definitions
1. Any moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces.
2. Moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc in the morning or evening, resulting in drops.
3. An instance of such moisture settling on plants, etc.
4. Anything that falls lightly and in a refreshing manner.
5. An emblem of morning, or fresh vigour.

## Etymology
From Middle English dew, from Old English dēaw (“dew”), from Proto-West Germanic *dauw, from Proto-Germanic *dawwaz, *dawwą (“dew, moisture”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“smoke, haze”).
Cognate with German Tau, Dutch dauw and Afrikaans dou. Doublet of dag.

## Easily confused with
- **do** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-do)
- **Dr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dr)
- **di** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-di)
- **DJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dj)
- **DM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dm)
- **DS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-ds)
- **DL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dl)
- **DT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dt)
- **DP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dp)
- **dw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dw)
- **Dx** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dx)
- **DG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dg)
- **DV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dv)
- **dy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dy)
- **DQ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dq)
- **did** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-did)
- **due** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-due)
- **dog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dog)
- **die** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-die)
- **dry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dew-vs-dry)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dew