strew

[stroo]

verb (used with object)

strewed, strewn, strewed, strewing. 

1. to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle.

   to strew seed in a garden bed.

   Synonyms: broadcast
   Antonyms: reap, gather

2. to cover or overspread (a surface, place, etc.) with something scattered or sprinkled.

   to strew a floor with sawdust.

3. to be scattered or sprinkled over (a surface).

   Sawdust strewed the floor.

4. to spread widely; disseminate.

   to strew rumors among the troops.

strew

/ struː /

verb

1. to spread or scatter or be spread or scattered, as over a surface or area

Other Word Forms

• strewer noun
• understrew verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of strew¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English strewen, Old English strewian; cognate with German streuen, Old Norse strā, Gothic straujan; akin to Latin sternere “to spread” ( stratum )

Word History and Origins

Origin of strew¹

Old English streowian; related to Old Norse strā, Old High German streuwen, Latin struere to spread

Synonym Study

See sprinkle.

Example Sentences

Recurring motifs, including a trio of nondescript dogs that several workshop attendees adopted for their own mugs, adorned various Stringer originals strewn about Backhouse.

From Los Angeles Times

On a visit to the encampment last week, trash was strewn between roughly 10 tents and makeshift shelters.

From Los Angeles Times

Still and silent, its life erased; only a few pock-marked structures stick up from the sea of rubble strewn for kilometres across the sand.

From BBC

Debris and rubble is strewn across the street outside and on top of cars parked outside.

From BBC

Images shared on social media showed large blocks of broken stone strewn on the pavement at the bottom of the steps outside The Monal wedding venue, with parts of the building's facade missing.

From BBC

Related Words

• scatter 
• sprinkle