spread out
phrasal verb
spread out; spreading out; spreads out
1
: to open, arrange, or place (something) over a large area
He spread out the map on the table.
He spread the cards out on the table.
The cards were spread out across the table.
2
: to be open, arranged, or extended over a large area
The city is spread out over a wide area.
3
: to move (parts of the body) outward or away from each other
Spread your arms out.
There's no room on the couch to spread yourself out.
4
: to divide up (something) over a period of time or among members of a group
They spread the work out among the committee members.
The course is spread out over two semesters.
5
: to move apart from the other members of a group especially to search an area
The police spread out to search the area faster.
Examples of spread out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Edwards and the surviving agents who were part of Haverford’s team spread out to Istanbul, Tehran, and Virginia to avenge their fallen comrades.
—
Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Ray rejoining the defensive line group would spread out the depth.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
The entire property is spread out across several acres and the main house features seven bedrooms.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
At this point, the European team began to spread out.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
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Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Ray rejoining the defensive line group would spread out the depth.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
The entire property is spread out across several acres and the main house features seven bedrooms.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
At this point, the European team began to spread out.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
Cite this Entry
“Spread out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spread%20out. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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