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

Verb

• gush
• jet
• pour
• rush
• spout
• spurt
• squirt
• swoosh

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

Although my top picks span a variety of genres, many of them have a similar spewing quality. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024

The eruption spewed tons of tephra—rock fragments ejected from the volcano—into Yokohama and Tokyo, some 60 miles east of Fuji. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

Along with cucumber engorgement, other physical changes in the plant before and during the explosion shaped the angle, height and distance of a successful seed spew, according to the study. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024

As slimy fluid spews out, depressurizing the fruit, the seeds’ speed drops. —Carolyn Wilke, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

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

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