spill

1 of 3

verb

spilled ˈspild How to pronounce spill (audio) ˈspilt How to pronounce spill (audio) also spilt ˈspilt How to pronounce spill (audio) ; spilling

transitive verb

1
: to cause or allow especially accidentally or unintentionally to fall, flow, or run out so as to be lost or wasted
2
a
: to cause (blood) to be lost by wounding
b
archaic : kill, destroy
3
: to let out : divulge
spill a secret
4
a
: to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl it
b
: to relieve the pressure of (wind) on a sail by coming about or by adjusting the sail with lines
5
: to throw off or out
a horse spilled him

intransitive verb

1
a
: to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost
water spilling over the dam
b
: to cause or allow something to spill
2
: to spread profusely or beyond bounds
crowds spilled into the streets
3
: to fall from one's place (as on a horse)
spillable adjective
spiller noun

spill

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: the act or an instance of spilling
especially : a fall from a horse or vehicle or an erect position
2
: something spilled

spill

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a wooden splinter
2
: a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire
Phrases
spill one's guts
: to divulge especially personal information
spill the beans
: to divulge secret or hidden information

Examples of spill in a Sentence

Verb I accidentally spilled coffee all over my new suit. Clean up the flour you spilled on the floor. a puddle of spilled water Water spilled over the dam. She opened the door and light spilled into the room. an interviewer who gets celebrities to spill their secrets Come on, spill it. Who gave you the money?
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
On the first Tuesday since announcing its closure, Mandrake was drawing happy hour crowds that spilled across the front bar, lounge area and bougainvillea-lush patio. Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The vinyl chloride released that day, combined with all the other chemicals that spilled and caught fire after the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have left residents with lingering fears about possible long-term health consequences. CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 Kids can run and jump while holding it (and even carry it upside down) without spilling a drop. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 With 34 barrier and tidal islands peppering its shoreline (more than any other state except for Florida), South Carolina spills over with natural wonders, beautiful beaches, and unique destinations to explore. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 The pacing is frenetic, with one fight scene spilling over into the next and timeouts no bigger than the space between dominoes. Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 In the months that followed, the drama surrounding their separation spilled into a whirlwind of headlines, interviews, and the music itself. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 The Oscars are like a mystical black box — AMPAS never spills the beans on who voted for what. Clayton Davis, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Ever accidentally spill a full bottle of Pepto Bismol all over a white tile floor and just stand there, looking at it in exasperation? Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
But this would be more than a bucket list experience of a winter wonderland under a celestial spill. Sophy Roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 In 2020, the service was directed by Congress to study the feasibility and cost of otter repopulation in part because of fear that an oil spill or other incident could wipe out the group concentrated around Monterey Bay. David Helvarg, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 Simply dust it regularly to keep up its shiny appearance, and immediately wash it with mild soap and water to remove spills. Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2024 The chenille pad is super absorbent for tacking spills, and the microfiber pad removes dirt, dust, and other dry debris. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 They are prompted after a simple mop-bucket spill leads to the discovery of the station's nefarious secrets. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024 The White House has said the government has sent a steady flow of federal resources to the community and deployed hundreds of people to assess the risks in the days after the spill. Erica L. Green, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 The origin of the ship that caused the spill is not yet known. Abel Alvarado, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024 It is suspected the spill was caused when a frozen water pipe in the building burst and washed some chemicals into the storm drain. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English spillan; akin to Old English spildan to destroy and perhaps to Latin spolium animal skin, Greek sphallein to cause to fall

Noun (2)

Middle English spille; akin to Middle Low German spīle thin stick, peg

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2b

Noun (1)

circa 1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near spill

Cite this Entry

“Spill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spill. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spill

1 of 2 verb
spilled ˈspild How to pronounce spill (audio) ˈspilt How to pronounce spill (audio) also spilt ˈspilt How to pronounce spill (audio) ; spilling
1
: to cause (blood) to flow by wounding or killing
2
a
: to cause or allow to fall, flow, or run out by accident
spilled some flour on the floor
b
: to fall or run out so as to be lost or wasted
the milk spilled
c
: to spread beyond limits
crowds spilled into the streets
3
: to throw off or out
a horse spilled its rider
4
: to let out : give away
spilled the secret
spillable adjective
spiller noun

spill

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an act or instance of spilling
b
: a fall from a horse or vehicle
2
: something spilled
cleaning up an oil spill

More from Merriam-Webster on spill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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