# littered

/ˈɫɪtɝd/ (US) · /lˈɪtəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/littered
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. covered in trash

adjective · CEFR B2

covered with pieces of trash or objects left lying around.

For teachers: covered with scattered rubbish or discarded items.

- The park was littered with plastic bottles and paper after the concert ended.
- The shoreline was heavily littered with marine debris, highlighting the urgent need for a community-led cleanup operation.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'with'.

### 2. full of examples

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

containing many examples of something, usually something bad or difficult.

For teachers: containing a high frequency or abundance of something, often with a negative or critical connotation.

- His first draft was littered with spelling mistakes and grammar errors.
- The history of the project is littered with failed attempts and broken promises, making investors wary of the new proposal.

Usage: Almost always used with the preposition 'with'.

Teaching tip: This is a figurative use. While 'littered' usually refers to trash, here it suggests that the errors or items are scattered everywhere like rubbish.

## Examples

- The park was littered with plastic bottles after the concert.
- The student's essay was littered with spelling mistakes, making it very difficult for the teacher to grade.
- The history of the region is littered with failed attempts at peace, each one collapsing under the weight of ancient grievances and modern political pressure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.