strew

verb \ ˈstrü \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: strew in a Sentence

Definition of strew

strewed; strewed or strewn play \ˈstrün\; strewing

transitive verb

1 : to spread by scattering

2 : to cover by or as if by scattering something

strewing the highways with litter

3 : to become dispersed over as if scattered

4 : to spread abroad : disseminate

See strew defined for English-language learners

See strew defined for kids

Examples of strew in a Sentence

She strewed the birdseed on the ground.
sidewalks strewed with trash left by the parade watchers

Recent Examples of strew from the Web

By Monday afternoon, crates, blankets, a few bicycles and trash were left strewn across the damp ground.

— tessa weinberg, chicagotribune.com, "'We don't have nowhere to go': Confusion persists after delayed evictions of Lower Wacker homeless encampment," 11 June 2018
In 2017, after a lengthy investigation, the police arrived at Dr. Choy’s office and found it in shambles, with folders, papers and garbage strewn across the floor.

— tyler blint-welsh, New York Times, "Pill Bottles Beside the Dead Shared a Doctor’s Name," 7 June 2018
Carol Highsmith/Library of Congress The vacant homes strewn across many U.S. cities create blighted gaps on the landscape.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "The high cost of abandoned property, and how cities can push back," 1 June 2018
Inside the home, officers found spoiled food, trash and feces strewn across the floors and clutter blocking the walkways.

— brittny mejia, latimes.com, "New charges filed against father who allegedly tortured children," 24 May 2018
Officers responded to reports of the gunfire and found Hicks, 31, dead from several gunshot wounds to his chest with marijuana strewn across the room, court records say.

— adam ferrise, cleveland.com, "University Heights man accused of fatally shooting Cleveland marijuana dealer," 11 May 2018
Photos from the scene showed the car upside-down and folded in half four hours after the crash, its contents still strewn across the road.

— benjy egel, sacbee, "Man dies in Capital City Freeway crash Friday morning | The Sacramento Bee," 11 May 2018
The car ended up in the center divide and clothes from the vehicle were strewn across the fast lane.

— karen kucher, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Traffic alert issued after fatal crash on west SR-94 in Spring Valley," 1 May 2018
The star wore mesh and gold bedazzled bodysuit, and embellished her locks with an intricate jeweled headpiece, which matched the jewels that were strewn across her body.

— jillian ruffo, PEOPLE.com, "Jennifer Lopez Wears 50-Inch Hair Extensions to the Billboard Latin Music Awards," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strew.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of strew

Middle English strewen, strowen, from Old English strewian, strēowian; akin to Old High German strewen to strew, Latin struere to heap up, sternere to spread out, Greek stornynai

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year