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strew
/struː/
scatter things randomly
The wind strews leaves across the lawn.
The wind spreads leaves randomly over the grass.
literaryformal
to scatter or spread things untidily over a surface or area
The children strewed their toys all over the floor.
The children scattered their toys messily across the floor.
Petals were strewed along the wedding aisle.
Petals were scattered along the path where the wedding took place.
Often used with objects that are small, numerous, or light (e.g., petals, leaves, papers). Can imply carelessness or lack of order.
literaryformal
to cover a surface with scattered objects
The field was strewed with wildflowers.
The field was covered with wildflowers scattered across it.
Common in poetic or descriptive language to evoke natural beauty or disarray.
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'strew'
While 'strew' adds a poetic or formal tone, it can sound overly elaborate in casual conversation. Opt for 'scatter' or 'spread' in informal contexts.
Gold Rule
Passive voice preference
Use the past participle 'strewn' in passive constructions (e.g., 'The path was strewn with flowers') rather than the base form 'strew' (e.g., 'The path was strewed with flowers' is incorrect).
Word Origin
Old English *strewian* (to scatter, sprinkle), from Proto-Germanic *strawjaną* (to strew), related to 'straw' (the dried stalks of grain). The sense of scattering objects evolved from the idea of spreading straw or similar materials.
Usage Notes
1. 'Strew' is often used in passive constructions (e.g., 'The ground was strewed with petals'). 2. Avoid confusing with 'strew' vs. 'strewn'—'strewn' is the past participle used in passive voice (e.g., 'The toys were strewn across the room'). 3. Less common in everyday speech; more frequent in literary or formal writing.
Word Breakdown
strew
to scatter or spread
rootEnglish Dictionary