strew

play

verb \ˈstrü\

Definition of strew

strewed

;

strewed

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

Every detail carried clues of how the two leaders perceived one another and what approach each would take in managing a moment strewn with potential land mines.

— michael birnbaum, Washington Post, "Breaking down the Putin-Trump handshake at the G-20 summit," 7 July 2017
Ersatz Twinkies frosted with Filipino ube (purple yam) or strewn with jackfruit and Fruity Pebbles?

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "Around the World in an Evening at the Queens Night Market," 22 June 2017
A couple of hulking vintage Vandercook printing presses—Cadillacs of the trade and prized possessions—also take refuge among the 30 tons of gear strewn about the place.

— steve root, Los Angeles Magazine, "In a Digital World, There’s Something Radical About The Church of Type," 20 June 2017
The only adornment is the floor gradually strewn with torn paper as characters rip up letters and other documents throughout the play.

— sam hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: Low-fi ‘King Lear’ holds court in Concord," 17 June 2017
Now multiply that by the spectacle of a baseball field strewn with the bodies of a sizable percentage of the Republican majority on Capitol Hill, as the shooter apparently intended.

— charles lane, Twin Cities, "Charles Lane: How we respond matters," 16 June 2017
Back in the brightening open kitchen strewn with jars of mysterious twigs and powders, Piattoni pops the tops on a few multi-gallon buckets that contain his fermentation experiments.

— rachelle robinett, Bon Appetit, "This Brooklyn Chef Is Redefining Healthy Restaurant Food," 14 June 2017
Lilies, roses, and chrysanthemums lay in stacks weighing down posters with messages to the deceased that were strewn throughout the parking lot.

— edgar gomez, Longreads, "Pulse Nightclub Was My Home," 13 June 2017
Construction materials from the truck, car parts and tire remnants were strewn along the I-30 and numerous MedStar ambulances responded to at least five crashes caused by the big-rig.

— ryan osborne, star-telegram, "Catastrophe avoided as tractor-trailer chase ends in fiery crash on I-30 in Arlington," 9 June 2017

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

See Words from the same year

STREW Defined for English Language Learners

strew

play

verb

Definition of strew for English Language Learners

: to spread or scatter things over or on the ground or some other surface
: to lie on or cover (something)

STREW Defined for Kids

strew

play

verb \ˈstrü\

Definition of strew for Students

strewed

;

strewed

strewn

\ˈstrün\;

strewing

1 : scatter 1 … his house and yard were disgracefully dirty with rusty tin cans strewn about … — Eleanor Estes, The Hundred Dresses
2 : to spread by scattering I strewed crumbs for the birds.
3 : to cover by or as if by scattering something Drivers strewed the highway with litter.