spew
C1Informal, often graphic/vulgar
Definition
Meaning
To eject or expel (contents) from within something, especially in a forceful, rapid, and uncontrolled manner.
To express or produce something in an unrestrained, rapid, and voluminous way (e.g., words, data). To feel or show extreme disgust.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly connotes a lack of control, force, and often unpleasantness. Can be used both literally (vomit, lava) and figuratively (words, emotions, data).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning. Slight tendency for the literal 'vomit' sense to be considered more vulgar in AmE. The figurative use is equally common.
Connotations
Universally graphic/vivid. Considered crude, not polite. The literal sense is more offensive than 'vomit'.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties; moderately common in informal/expressive contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[spew] + [noun phrase] (transitive)[spew] + [adverb/preposition] + [from/out of/onto] (intransitive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Spew your guts (out)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly figurative: 'The printer started spewing paper.' 'The system spewed out erroneous reports.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing. May appear in geology/volcanology ('The volcano spewed ash') or in critical discourse analysis ('spewing propaganda').
Everyday
Common in vivid, informal description of vomiting, overflowing, or emotional outbursts. 'I felt so sick I thought I'd spew.'
Technical
Used in engineering/geology for describing forceful ejection of material (e.g., smokestacks, volcanoes).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The burst pipe began to spew dirty water all over the pavement.
- He went on a rant, spewing vitriol at the interviewer.
- The old car's exhaust spewed black smoke.
American English
- The volcano spewed ash for miles.
- The online troll just spews hate from behind a keyboard.
- I ate something bad and spent the night spewing.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
American English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
adjective
British English
- The spew-covered pavement was cordoned off.
- We avoided the spew zone on the sidewalk.
American English
- The spew-filled gutter was a health hazard.
- He told a spew-inducing story over dinner.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The factory chimney spews smoke into the air.
- The baby spewed his milk all over my shirt.
- After the scandal, the newspaper spewed criticism at the minister for days.
- The broken pipe spewed water across the basement floor.
- The algorithm spews out thousands of data points per second, requiring sophisticated filtering.
- He stood up and spewed forth a torrent of abuse that shocked everyone in the room.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SPEW' as 'Sick Person Ejects Whatever'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER/CRITICISM IS A SUBSTANCE SPEWED FROM A CONTAINER. INFORMATION/OUTPUT IS VOMIT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'блевать' in polite/figurative contexts—it's too crude. For figurative 'spew lies', use 'изрыгать' or 'извергать'. The verb 'тошнить' is less forceful and implies nausea, not the act itself.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'spew' with 'spill' (spill is gentler, accidental). Using it in overly formal contexts. Incorrect preposition: 'spew on' vs. 'spew from'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'spew' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In its literal sense (vomit), it is crude and graphic. Its figurative uses are informal and often carry negative connotations.
'Vomit' is the standard, though clinical, term. 'Spew' emphasizes the force, volume, and lack of control, making it more vivid and often more offensive.
Yes. It's commonly used for gases (smoke, steam), solids (ash, data, words), and even abstract concepts (hatred, propaganda).
The standard past tense and past participle is 'spewed'. 'Spewn' is a rare, non-standard variant.