Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×
1

stew

noun \ ˈstü , ˈstyü \

Definition of stew

1 obsolete : a utensil used for boiling
2 : a hot bath
3 a : whorehouse
b : a district of bordellos —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

Origin and Etymology of stew

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

2

stew

verb

Definition of stew

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

See stew defined for English-language learners

Examples of stew in a Sentence

  1. The meat still needs to stew.

  2. a can of stewed tomatoes

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

First Known Use of stew

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

stew Synonyms

Synonyms

bother, fear, fret, fuss, stress, sweat, trouble, worry;

Near Antonyms

accept;

abide, bear, endure, stick out, stomach, sustain, take, tolerate;

Related Words

agonize;

long, pine, yearn;

chafe;

despair;

Phrases

give a hang (or care a hang), sweat blood;

3

stew

noun

Definition of stew

: flight attendant

Origin and Etymology of stew

short for stewardess

Other Transportation Terms

camber, corduroy, demurrage, milestone

Phrases Related to STEW

Related Phrases

STEW Defined for English Language Learners

stew

verb

Definition of stew for English Language Learners

  • : to cook (something) slowly in hot liquid

  • : to be upset or worried

STEW Defined for Kids

1

stew

noun \ ˈstü , ˈstyü \

Definition of stew for Students

1 : a dish of usually meat with vegetables prepared by slow boiling
2 : a state of excitement, worry, or confusion
  • He got in a stew over nothing.
2

stew

verb

Definition of stew for Students

stewed; stewing
1 : to boil slowly : simmer
  • stew tomatoes
2 : to become excited or worried Don't stew over what they said.

Learn More about stew

  1. See words that rhyme with stew Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stew Spanish Central: Translation of stew Nglish: Translation of stew for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stew for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stew

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up stew? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

stew

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games