1
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
2
: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)
3
: something (such as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray
1
: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
sprayed; spraying; sprays
1
: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into
spray the table
spraying the wall with bullets
2
: to disperse or apply as a spray
sprayed some perfume
1
: to break up into spray
2
: to disperse or apply a spray
3
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
sprayer
noun
Examples of spray in a Sentence
Verb
She sprayed herself with perfume.
The crops are sprayed monthly.
We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves.
The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall.
He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface.
She sprayed some perfume into the air.
The soda sprayed from the bottle.
The blood sprayed onto the wall.
They sprayed the crowd with bullets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control
Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2025
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
The blaze is seemingly just outside of a building, and firefighters' hoses can be seen spraying the plane to put out the fire.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spray
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The spray is applied to brush and trees in canyons and open spaces and around homeless encampments and evacuation corridors.
—Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control
Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
So, if the water pressure suddenly drops off and the sprinklers no longer spray as far as usual, this is a sign that there might be a blockage in the system.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
The blaze is seemingly just outside of a building, and firefighters' hoses can be seen spraying the plane to put out the fire.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spray
Cite this Entry
“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spray
1 of 3 noun
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
spray
2 of 3 noun1
: liquid flying in fine drops like water blown from a wave
2
a
: a burst of fine mist (as from an atomizer)
b
: a device (as an atomizer) for scattering a spray
spray
3 of 3 verb1
: to scatter or apply as a spray
2
: to scatter spray on or into
sprayer
noun
Medical Definition
spray
1 of 2 noun
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
specifically
: a jet of fine medicated vapor used as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or deodorant
spray
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
Legal Definition
spray
transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients
authorized to spray trust income—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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