spawned; spawning; spawns
1
: to deposit or fertilize spawn
2
: to produce young especially in large numbers
1
a
: to produce or deposit (eggs)
—used of an aquatic animal
b
: to induce (fish) to spawn
c
: to plant with mushroom spawn
2
: bring forth, generate
the idea spawned controversy
spawner
noun
Examples of spawn in a Sentence
Verb
The health-food craze spawned a multimillion-dollar industry.
the incident that spawned a generation of student protests
a TV show that spawned a host of imitations
Noun
Pacific salmon return to Alaskan streams to deposit their spawn.
sometimes I think those little brats are the spawn of Satan himself
Recent Examples on the Web
Chad De Guzman, Time, 26 May 2025
Other countries reciprocated with comparable tariffs, which forced global trade to decline by 65% in 1933, the peak of the Depression that spawned a 25% unemployment rate in the United States.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025
Benjamin Cassidy, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Anglers worry the predators will endanger one of the last havens for wild, resident rainbow trout and salmon that spawn there.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spawn
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Verb
The reality-television series has spawned a number of spinoffs, including Duck Dynasty: The Revival, which is set to center on Willie and Korie and their children and is expected to premiere this summer.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 26 May 2025
Other countries reciprocated with comparable tariffs, which forced global trade to decline by 65% in 1933, the peak of the Depression that spawned a 25% unemployment rate in the United States.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025
Noun
In modern times, sturgeon almost always return to their native rivers to breed, but historical samples suggested that some sturgeon may have abandoned their native rivers to spawn.
—Benjamin Cassidy, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Anglers worry the predators will endanger one of the last havens for wild, resident rainbow trout and salmon that spawn there.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spawn
Cite this Entry
“Spawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spawn. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spawn
1 of 2 verb
ˈspȯn 
ˈspän
1
: to deposit or fertilize eggs
fish swimming upstream to spawn
2
: to produce young especially in large numbers
3
spawner
noun
spawn
2 of 2 noun1
: the eggs of aquatic animals (as fishes or oysters) that lay many small eggs
2
: product sense 2, offspring
also
: something produced in large quantities
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