Word
strewn
US/ˈstɹun/
UK/stɹˈuːn/
Definition
adj. scattered or spread untidily over a surface. You use this to describe things that are lying around in a messy way.
adj. scattered or spread over a surface in a disorganized or untidy manner. Often used predicatively after 'be' or 'lie' to describe the state of a location.
Examples
“Clothes were strewn across the bedroom floor.”
“After the storm, the beach was strewn with seaweed and pieces of broken wood.”
“The morning after the festival, the park was strewn with discarded flyers and empty bottles, presenting a stark contrast to the manicured lawns of the previous week.”
Examples
simple
“Clothes were strewn across the bedroom floor.”
contextual
“After the storm, the beach was strewn with seaweed and pieces of broken wood.”
complex
“The morning after the festival, the park was strewn with discarded flyers and empty bottles, presenting a stark contrast to the manicured lawns of the previous week.”
Usage
Typically used with the preposition 'with' when describing the surface, or 'across' and 'over' when describing the objects.
Real-World Examples
“A woman has become a dirty dining table in one menacingly red painting, plates of half-eaten cake and glasses of milk strewn across her body.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/strewn