spate

noun

1
2
a
: a large number or amount
a spate of books on gardening
b
: a sudden or strong outburst : rush
a spate of anger

Examples of spate in a Sentence

A spate of books on the subject have come out recently. There was a spate of corporate mergers in the 1980s.
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.
Wednesday’s return to school, after a busy summer spent hunting a serial killer, corresponds eerily with a new spate of murders. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025 Real Madrid have decided to make several changes in the medical department after the spate of injuries that plagued the team last season. Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025 Meanwhile, students and educators will be confronted with a spate of new state laws created in this year’s General Assembly session. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025 In mid-July, after a recent spate of sectarian violence in Syria’s south, Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian government facilities in Damascus. Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spate. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

spate

noun
: a sudden flood or rush

More from Merriam-Webster on spate

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