strew

verb

ˈstrü 

strewed; strewed or strewn 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

Synonyms

• bestrew
• dot
• pepper
• scatter
• sow
• spot
• spray
• sprinkle

Examples of strew in a Sentence

She strewed the birdseed on the ground.

sidewalks strewed with trash left by the parade watchers

Recent Examples on the Web

This was viewed as a shallow crop of free agents around the league, so give credit to the Patriots for being aggressive and not being left in the dust with so much cap space and needs strewn across the roster. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 12 Mar. 2025

Wiens estimates that the rocks—found in an ancient riverbed and strewn uphill on the rim of Jezero Crater—are several billion years old. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

Debris from the crash were strewn across the home’s lawn and the block, per NBC 5. —Charna Flam, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025

Some of the dead had been buried, but other bodies remained strewn on the ground, mangled and decomposing. —Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for strew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

strew

verb

ˈstrü 

strewed; strewed or strewn ˈstrün  ; strewing

1

: to spread (as seeds) by scattering

2

: to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on

strewing the highways with litter

3

: to spread around as if sowing seeds : disseminate