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

Advertisement The deputy’s equipment was strewn across the freeway. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025

The Kia Forum was strewn with scannable codes to learn more about the tour’s impact, and the arena provided an unheard-of amount of vegan options, including beloved Angeleno vendors Donut Friend and Monty’s Good Burger. —Julia MacCary, Variety, 3 Jan. 2025

They were strewn across the shallow bay bottom to the left of and behind Green Marker 15 — another indicator that the boat veered just outside the official channel. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

More:The legendary gales of November left the Great Lakes strewn with tragic shipwrecks Ice cover is declining due to climate change Ice cover in the Great Lakes has been declining for the past five decades due to climate change. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024

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

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