spew

1 of 2

verb

ˈspyü 

spewed; spewing; spews

intransitive verb

1

: vomit

2

: to come forth in a flood or gush

3

: to ooze out as if under pressure : exude

transitive verb

1

: vomit

2

: to send or cast forth with vigor or violence or in great quantity

a volcano spewing out ash

—often used with out

spewer noun

spew

2 of 2

noun

1

: matter that is vomited : vomit

2

: material that exudes or is extruded

Synonyms

Verb

• gush
• jet
• pour
• rush
• spout
• spurt
• squirt
• swoosh

Examples of spew in a Sentence

Verb

Exhaust spewed out of the car.

Smoke and ashes spewed from the volcano.

The volcano spewed hot ash.

The faucet started spewing dirty water.

The dog spewed vomit on the rug.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Cops are on the lookout for a woman who attacked two restaurant workers after spewing anti-Asian remarks at a Harlem Chinese eatery early this month. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025

Before long, the pristine snow erupts into a dark mass that spews a stream of writhing, hungry predators. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Noun

Like when running rich, excess water spews from the exhaust, or quenches the spark plugs. —New Atlas, 1 Feb. 2025

Hawkins makes this seem like a monumental spew of words rather than benign chitchat. —Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English spīwan; akin to Old High German spīwan to spit, Latin spuere, Greek ptyein

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

spew

1 of 2 verb

ˈspyü 

: to send or come out in a flood or gush

spew

2 of 2 noun

: matter that is spewed out