stew

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈstü 

ˈstyü

1

obsolete : a utensil used for boiling

2

: a hot bath

3

a

: brothel

b

: a district of brothels

—usually used in plural

4

a

: fish or meat usually with vegetables prepared by stewing

b(1)

: a heterogeneous mixture

(2)

: a state of heat and congestion

5

: a state of excitement, worry, or confusion

stew

2 of 3

verb

stewed; stewing; stews

transitive verb

: to boil slowly or with simmering heat

intransitive verb

1

: to become cooked by stewing

2

: to swelter especially from confinement in a hot or stuffy atmosphere

3

: to be in a state of suppressed agitation, worry, or resentment

stew

3 of 3

noun (2)

: flight attendant

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• dither
• fluster
• fret
• fuss
• huff
• lather
• pother
• sweat
• swelter
• swivet
• tizzy
• twitter

Verb

• boil
• coddle
• parboil
• poach
• simmer

Examples of stew in a Sentence

Noun (1)

many in town are in a stew about the proposed plan to close at least one of the elementary schools

the audience went into a stew when the evacuation order was announced

the documentary looks at the stew of conspiracy theories inspired by the assassination

a red-light district full of down and dirty stews

Verb

The meat still needs to stew.

a can of stewed tomatoes

She's been stewing over what he said for days.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Nothing is so simple for Supreme Court justices, whose lifetime tenure turns the decision about when to step down into a complex stew of personal ambition, court dynamics and, of course, politics. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2024

There, the Kentucky chef fell in love with paprika and the many soups and stews Hungarian home cooks make with it. —Ouita Michel, Saveur, 15 May 2024

Verb

The GOP appears content to sit on its hands and let Biden and Democrats stew amid public frustration over the border situation. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024

While the emotional Moon in your partnership zone supports bold Uranus in your communication sector, you’re supported to say what’s on your mind instead of just stewing about it. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English stewe heated room for a steam bath, from Anglo-French estuve, from Vulgar Latin *extufa — more at stove

Noun (2)

short for stewardess

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1970, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stew

• Brunswick stew
• in a stew
• Irish stew
• mulligan stew
• stew in one's own juice/juices

Kids Definition

stew

1 of 2 noun

ˈst(y)ü 

1

: food (as meat with vegetables) prepared by slow boiling

2

: a state of excitement, worry, or confusion

in a stew over nothing

stew

2 of 2 verb

1

: to boil slowly : simmer

2

: to become excited or worried : fret