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

More:The legendary gales of November left the Great Lakes strewn with tragic shipwrecks Michigan was once the lead supplier of rye to distilleries Before Prohibition, which occurred from 1920 to 1933, Michigan was the largest rye-producing state in the country. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024

In Shanghai, three separate spaces will bow on Julu Road for one week only: a café, a retail location and a cinema space strewn with Murakami flower cushions. —Joelle Diderich For Wwd, ARTnews.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Its roof was strewn with debris from houses hit nearby by Israeli airstrikes. —Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024

No personnel or facilities were harmed in the explosion, but debris was strewn throughout the launch site. —Brett Tingley, Space.com, 18 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