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 of spew

Verb

• pour
• rush
• stream

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

Social media videos showed people running into the streets as bright orange flames and smoke spewed into the sky. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

This hypothesis is supported in the MIRI image where the ionized gas can be seen spewing out through the hydrogen envelope at the top of the picture. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Noun

Stress, excitement or tiredness can set off an unwanted, uncontrollable volley of sudden jerky movements and/or a spew of four-letter and other words. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026

Playwright Yasmina Reza’s middle-class cast of four brew, and gleefully quaff, an amoral spew of modern age self-preoccupation. —Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 2 Feb. 2026

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