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

Images taken of the estate showed debris strewn about the grounds, which are covered in thick mud. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

With dozens of mountain ranges, including the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, strewn across the country, there is no shortage of idyllic communities nestled among scenic hillsides. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024

Pages from a children’s book are strewn across the wreckage following an Israeli strike in Aitou, northern Lebanon, on Tuesday. —Matt Bradley, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024

Shades of magenta to midnight blue were strewn across the dress, creating an ombre effect. —Nick Hall, WWD, 19 Oct. 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