spear

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
: a thrusting or throwing weapon with long shaft and sharp head or blade
2
: a sharp-pointed instrument with barbs used in spearing fish
3

spear

2 of 5

verb (1)

speared; spearing; spears

transitive verb

1
: to pierce, strike, or take with or as if with a spear
spear salmon
speared a chop from the platter
2
: to catch (something, such as a baseball) with a sudden thrust of the arm
3
a
ice hockey : to jab (an opposing player) with the blade of one's stick
All game, the Caps held, hooked, slashed, speared, chopped, and bopped … the Rangers' European players.Stu Hackel
b
American football : to ram (an opposing player) with one's helmet
… defensive end Ben Davidson set off a sidelines-clearing scrum when he speared Dawson from behind after he was down.Jim Trotter

intransitive verb

: to thrust at or wound something with or as if with a spear
spearer noun

spear

3 of 5

adjective

: paternal sense 3
the spear side of the family
compare distaff

spear

4 of 5

verb (2)

speared; spearing; spears

intransitive verb

of a plant
: to thrust a spear upward

spear

5 of 5

noun (2)

: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)

Examples of spear in a Sentence

Noun (1) the Roman gladiator thrust his spear triumphantly into the lion's side Verb (1) she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Sturdy individual stakes are a good option, and to prevent spearing the bulb, they should be placed at planting time. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025 In 1999, a fisherman in Malaysia was killed after being speared by a houndfish, according to the Courier-Post. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
It's topped with relish, onion, tomato, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and celery salt. Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 16 July 2025 If our institutions of higher learning represent the armory of our competitiveness — equipping the next generation with the tools to compete and win in today’s economy — then our incubators and accelerators are the tip of our spear. Deborah Hemingway, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for spear

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English spere, from Old English; akin to Old High German sper spear, Latin sparus hunting spear

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

alteration of spire entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1573, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spear was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spear. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

spear

1 of 3 noun
1
: a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade used for throwing or jabbing
2
: an instrument with a sharp point and curved hooks used in spearing fish
3

spear

2 of 3 verb
: to pierce or strike with or as if with a spear
spearer noun

spear

3 of 3 noun
: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)

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