1
: a stout pole
2
a
: a stout rounded usually wood or metal piece (such as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging
b
: any of the main longitudinal members of the wing of an airplane that carry the ribs
sparred; sparring
1
a
: box entry 3
especially
: to gesture without landing a blow to draw one's opponent or create an opening
b
: to engage in a practice or exhibition bout of boxing
3
: to strike or fight with feet or spurs in the manner of a gamecock
: any of various nonmetallic usually cleavable and lustrous minerals
Examples of spar in a Sentence
Verb
He's been sparring with his trainer.
They sparred playfully over whose team was better.
Recent Examples on the Web
Oleksandr Chubko Mauricio Lima, New York Times, 10 May 2024
The basic idea was this: What if rooftop solar installers, utility companies, labor unions and other sparring parties could learn to stop fighting?
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Daniels sparred with Necheles over her motives for signing the settlement and nondisclosure agreement at the center of the trial.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 9 May 2024
The candidates also sparred in four debates throughout March and April, where monologues and lines of attack became familiar for those following along closely.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 7 May 2024
While Drake has been sparring with Kendrick Lamar in the spicy feud sweeping the rap world, the 6 God has had smoke for Metro Boomin as well.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 May 2024
House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
—Chris Megerian, Fortune, 2 May 2024
Community is important in these types of places, for sparring, for conversation, for commiseration.
—Abby Ellin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2024
On the series, she was known for fiercely championing her daughter and sparring with Miller over Kendall's placement on the pyramid.
—Sydni Ellis, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Andrew Birkle, Detroit Free Press, 31 Jan. 2024
Craters pitted the earth; hummocks rose and fell; downed trees jutted from slash heaps like the spars of shipwrecks.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
This dense mass, called a spar platform, works like the keel of a boat.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2023
There’s a 40,000-tonne spar platform that replaces the steel column with a cheaper, 285-meter-long column of concrete.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2023
Lawyers spar, sons testify, as Aretha Franklin estate trial gets underway in Pontiac
Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin are proponents of the 2014 will.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2023
Jayapal, Nadler spar with Barr over Portland, politicization Since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, protests have occurred nightly in the city for more than 70 days.
—USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2020
Here are some highlights of their conversation: Musk and Yaccarino spar over content moderation The Miami discussion was cordial, although both participants drew some distinct lines in the sand.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 14 May 2023
The same 100 hp, 659 cc parallel-twin sits inside the same twin spar chassis.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2021
Verb
One was a man, age 50, who was shot when riding a moped near a column of Russian military equipment; the other was a woman, 56, who sparred with Russian troops who parked their vehicle in her yard, statements from the Kherson regional prosecutor’s office said.
—Oleksandr Chubko Mauricio Lima, New York Times, 10 May 2024
The basic idea was this: What if rooftop solar installers, utility companies, labor unions and other sparring parties could learn to stop fighting?
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Daniels sparred with Necheles over her motives for signing the settlement and nondisclosure agreement at the center of the trial.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 9 May 2024
The candidates also sparred in four debates throughout March and April, where monologues and lines of attack became familiar for those following along closely.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 7 May 2024
While Drake has been sparring with Kendrick Lamar in the spicy feud sweeping the rap world, the 6 God has had smoke for Metro Boomin as well.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 May 2024
House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
—Chris Megerian, Fortune, 2 May 2024
Community is important in these types of places, for sparring, for conversation, for commiseration.
—Abby Ellin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2024
On the series, she was known for fiercely championing her daughter and sparring with Miller over Kendall's placement on the pyramid.
—Sydni Ellis, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Noun
However, beyond this immediate good news for Lions fans, Carlos and Shawn spar over whether we should be concerned if Coach Dan Campbell can hire the right replacement should Johnson leave the team.
—Andrew Birkle, Detroit Free Press, 31 Jan. 2024
Craters pitted the earth; hummocks rose and fell; downed trees jutted from slash heaps like the spars of shipwrecks.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
This dense mass, called a spar platform, works like the keel of a boat.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2023
There’s a 40,000-tonne spar platform that replaces the steel column with a cheaper, 285-meter-long column of concrete.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2023
Lawyers spar, sons testify, as Aretha Franklin estate trial gets underway in Pontiac
Kecalf Franklin and Edward Franklin are proponents of the 2014 will.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2023
Jayapal, Nadler spar with Barr over Portland, politicization Since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, protests have occurred nightly in the city for more than 70 days.
—USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2020
Here are some highlights of their conversation: Musk and Yaccarino spar over content moderation The Miami discussion was cordial, although both participants drew some distinct lines in the sand.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 14 May 2023
The same 100 hp, 659 cc parallel-twin sits inside the same twin spar chassis.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spar
Cite this Entry
“Spar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spar. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spar
1 of 2 noun1
: a stout pole
2
: a long rounded usually wood or metal piece (as a mast, boom, or yard) to which a sail is fastened
spar
2 of 2 verb
sparred; sparring
1
: to box or make boxing movements with the fists for practice or in fun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sparre "a stout pole, a pole used to support a sail on a ship"
Verb
Middle English sparren "to dart, spring"
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