What does spew mean?
Spew most commonly means to vomit, ejecting the contents of the stomach from the mouth, although it can also describe a fountain, pipe, machine, or other source that forcefully throws out liquid, smoke, or debris. In its extended uses, the word suggests an uncontrolled or excessive discharge: a factory may spew pollution, or a speaker may spew out a rapid stream of words. It is more forceful and dramatic than “vomit” in its literal sense, and the expression “spew out” is idiomatic for forcefully expelling something. Spew can sound blunt or informal in medical and everyday contexts, but it may be effectively literary when describing smoke, steam, lava, or another substance being expelled. It is a vivid word for forceful expulsion, particularly when the amount or force of the discharge is noteworthy.
To vomit, or to eject liquid, smoke, or another substance forcefully from a source.
"The pipe spewed steam across the floor."
Literal uses can be blunt or informal. The verb is also used figuratively for excessive or uncontrolled emission.
A forceful spray or discharge of liquid, smoke, or other material; an act of vomiting.
"A spew of smoke rose from the damaged engine."
The noun is less common than the verb and often has a vivid or figurative quality.
The plural is used for separate forceful discharges or instances of vomiting.
"The erupting volcano produced several spews of ash."
From an old word for vomiting to a fountain that throws water everywhere, spew captures forceful expulsion in one vivid syllable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spew come from?
Spew descends from Middle English spewen, which developed from Old English spēwan, meaning to vomit or spit. The word belongs to a Germanic family that also includes Dutch spuwen and German speien; it is further related to Latin spuere, “to spit,” the source of words such as “spurious” and “spume.” The modern sense of forcefully ejecting liquid or other material developed through the word’s longstanding association with vomiting and spurting.
Related word forms
How spew is actually used
Spew is vivid and often informal when used for vomiting, but it can be more formal or literary when describing a source that forcefully ejects liquid, smoke, or debris. The phrase “spew out” is especially common.
Easily confused with spew
To spit is to forcefully eject saliva or another small amount from the mouth, whereas to spew usually implies vomiting or expelling a substantial stream of liquid.