noun Uncommon

slew

sloo

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Slew (noun) means (informal) A large number or amount of something. Example: “They received a whole slew of complaints after the announcement.”

noun

(informal) A large number or amount of something.

"She has a slew of papers and notebooks strewn all over her desk."

"There has been a slew of documents about Scottish transport planning in recent weeks." — Philip Haigh, A shift from cars: Scotland's railways are friends of electric! (2021)

"They received a whole slew of complaints after the announcement."

verb

To turn or swing something sharply around, often on an axis.

"The car slewed sideways on the icy road."

How to use slew

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "a large amount of something" or "to swing/turn sharply."

Common mistake

Don't confuse this "slew" (large number, or to turn) with the past tense of "slay" ("he slew the dragon") — they're spelled identically but completely unrelated.

Easily confused with

slay →

Common pairings

a slew of slew around

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: slews
Third person singular: slews
Past tense: slewed

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They received a whole _____ of complaints after the announcement.

Etymology

Mostly a British spelling variant of "slue," describing a turning or twisting motion; unrelated to "slay," despite being its past tense form in a different verb.

Synonyms

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mass mint heap mountain hatful deal batch flock mickle mess muckle lot

Antonyms

modicum smidgen

Related words

group lot care hand deal trade share consider

Rhymes for slew

Lew flew Blew

See all rhymes for slew →

Frequently asked questions

What does “slew” mean?

The word “slew” means (informal) A large number or amount of something. In plain terms, either "a large amount of something" or "to swing/turn sharply.".

How do you pronounce “slew”?

“Slew” is pronounced sloo (/sl(j)uː/ in IPA).

How do you use “slew” in a sentence?

Here is “slew” used in a sentence: “They received a whole slew of complaints after the announcement.”

What part of speech is “slew”?

Depending on how it is used, “slew” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “slew” a common word?

“Slew” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “slew” have?

“Slew” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal) A large number or amount of something.

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