spread 1 of 2

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as in to apply
to put a layer of on a surface we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered

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as in to circulate
to become known once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere

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as in to divide
to go or move in different directions from a central point the walls of the old barn spread under the weight of the snow on the roof

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spread

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noun

1
as in quilt
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed bought a brightly colored spread for summer

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as in spectrum
the distance or extent between possible extremes the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz

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5

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spread
Verb
All guests are expected to have candles since the priest lights a fire and then spreads it to all in attendance. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 1 Apr. 2025 Measles spreads in the air and can infect people in a room up to two hours after the sick person has left. Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
Stay calm and still to slow down the spread of venom. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025 She’s positioned cautiously right now because spreads — which measure junk bonds’ excess return over risk-free Treasurys — are tight. Michelle Fox, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spread
Verb
  • All official information will be disseminated through our institutional channels.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This action — a mistake or incompetence, take your pick — risks disseminating important information, jaw-dropping in its specificity, to our enemies, and could perhaps endanger American lives.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In other words, the same asset that feels untouchable when trying to borrow from a bank suddenly becomes fully visible when applying for student aid.
    Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • But at the same time, all nine justices agreed that Venezuelan nationals facing deportation under the Act have a right to contest in a federal court whether the law, traditionally invoked during wartime, applies to them.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Conditions of their initial arrest were brutal, according to footage that circulated online.
    NPR's International Desk, NPR, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Those were the words of a U.S.-based chief executive officer in response to a flash survey CNBC circulated among members of its CEO Council in the days after President Trump’s sweeping tariffs announcement Wednesday.
    Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to a press statement from the department, 31-year-old Demetria Spence was taken into custody and charged with transmitting a false public alarm.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The Atlanta Police Department said Demetria Spence, 31, was charged Tuesday with transmitting a false public alarm.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The appeals court divided 2-1 in turning down the government's request to halt Boasberg's directive.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The Trump administration reportedly calculated the tariff by dividing the trade deficit ($7.4 billion) by the value of imports to America ($22.2 billion) and then essentially halving the figure to reach 17%.
    Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That reticence could conceivably involve suppressing concerns about how the U.S. military’s increasing involvement in domestic missions is placing strains on resources and readiness.
    Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Indeed, solar generation increased by 474 TWh (terawatt-hours; 1 TWh is enough to power a small city for a year) in 2024, reaching a total of 2,131 TWh – with China and the US leading the charge.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The queen-size quilt is on sale in steel blue, brick red, and black, but the steel blue color has the steepest discount at 60 percent off.
    Maggie Horton, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The club donates hundreds of quilts and other handmade items to a various groups, including Rady Children’s Hospital, senior centers, hospitals, police and military groups.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • For the Minimalist x Sophia Roe S.R Collection ceramic dinner plates $320 NET-A-PORTER This set of four ceramic, dishwasher-safe dinner plates are heirloom-worthy.
    Erika Owen, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The chic restaurant spans two floors and with its prime shopping location is equally good for lunch or dinner after a day of retail therapy.
    Rana Good, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spread. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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