spew

1 of 2

verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
This dirty cosmic snowball, spewing gas and dust, is making its closest approach to Earth this week, about 56 million miles away. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025 Fumes shot skyward, along with red clay dirt caught in the spewing gas, Charlotte Observer news parter WSOC reported. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Hart will insult Hammerstein as a third-rate talent and then, upon being face-to-face with his rival, spews over-the-top compliments. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025 When air pollution in the form of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and mercury spew from fossil fuel burning power plants, the health of communities living nearby are at risk, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spew

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spew was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spew. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

spew

1 of 2 verb
: to send or come out in a flood or gush

spew

2 of 2 noun
: matter that is spewed out

More from Merriam-Webster on spew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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