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

Social media footage from the flight obtained by the outlet shows images of items, food, and drink cartons strewn across the aisle from inside the plane. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025

Laurie Carpenter, a 62-year-old retiree in Newland, N.C., said there’s still debris and trash strewn around her part of the state. —Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

Social media posts show food and beverages strewn about the cabin on the plane. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025

Visitors stepping into Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on a recent, frigid Saturday were greeted with a roaring fireplace and Scandi furniture strewed with blankets. —David Allen Jenn Ackerman, New York Times, 21 Jan. 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

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