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
Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
As one of the largest islands in the world, this jumble of rainforests, highland plateaus, and otherworldly rock formations has spawned a unique ecosystem of freakish critters—many of which can’t be found anywhere else on earth.
—Chris Schalkx, Robb Report, 15 May 2025
Cheryl Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
These fish are genetically wired to return to spawn in their natal waterway — in this case, a hatchery pond — after spending years in the Pacific Ocean.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spawn
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Verb
The storms are part of the system that spawned tornadoes that killed at least 21 people in Missouri and southeastern Kentucky, NWS meteorologist Trisha Palmer told The Charlotte Observer.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
As one of the largest islands in the world, this jumble of rainforests, highland plateaus, and otherworldly rock formations has spawned a unique ecosystem of freakish critters—many of which can’t be found anywhere else on earth.
—Chris Schalkx, Robb Report, 15 May 2025
Noun
As the fish return to spawn in the rivers and streams where they were hatched, bottlenecks like dams stir up pinniped feeding frenzies.
—Cheryl Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
These fish are genetically wired to return to spawn in their natal waterway — in this case, a hatchery pond — after spending years in the Pacific Ocean.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 15 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 24 May. 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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