span 1 of 2

verb

Definition of spannext
as in to measure
to find out the size, extent, or amount of tried to span the distance between the two trees by eye alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

span

2 of 2

noun

1
as in pair

Related Words
2
as in year

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of span
Verb
This book spans the arc of one of the most consequential careers in American public life. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 Below, Deadline details their allegations, which span a 10-year period from 1999-2009. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
The fortunes of Venus scientists changed in a big way in June 2021, when NASA and ESA selected three Venus missions for development in a span of just eight days. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 In that span Monday, Yamamoto made 75 pitches and gave up three runs on four hits. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for span
Recent Examples of Synonyms for span
  1. measure
  2. pair
  3. year
  4. gauge
  5. couple
  6. space
  7. scale
  8. yoke
Verb
  • Engagement is often seen as a metric about sentiment that can be measured and tracked, but is treated as something employees bring—or fail to bring—to their jobs.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Testing sensors on canisters During the INL demonstration, researchers installed optical fibers outside a mock nuclear fuel canister and tested several arrangements to measure acoustic vibrations.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of measure
Noun
  • Their high-profile affair became public in late November 2022, after the pair was photographed holding hands in New York and getting cozy at a bar.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The set comes with a cozy quarter-zip sweatshirt and a pair of wide-leg bottoms, making for a complete travel-ready outfit that takes no effort at all.
    — Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of pair
Noun
  • The Congolese government aims to take over by next year, but has struggled with the recent uncertainty, said Polydor Kabila, coordinator of the universal healthcare program in the president's office.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The bill was introduced over a year ago, and its primary backer was the late Lindsey Graham, a veteran Republican senator who represented South Carolina.
    — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of year
Verb
  • The most impressive and compelling feature that the Japanese Microwave offers is definitely the sensor tech that can automatically gauge how long your food needs to be reheated.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • One of the few high-frequency data sources for gauging mill demand is the USDA’s weekly export sales report.
    — SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of gauge
Noun
  • Jeff said couples have set prices from $25 to $150 a seat, with an average of about $50.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The Afghan couple raised her for 18 months, but during that time the Masts also obtained a final adoption order from a Virginia court without notifying them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of couple
Noun
  • Over the past few years, that space has become much more crowded, with brands from On Running to APL to Deckers Brands’ HOKA to New Balance managing to meet consumers’ changing tastes.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But at this distance the jet’s energy wouldn’t have dissipated much during its voyage through space.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of space
Verb
  • DannijoPro has tapped Pat Geraghty, former president and chief executive officer of GuideWell and its subsidiary Florida Blue, as CEO as the company looks to scale its business.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • How Creator Relationships With Viewers Are Changing As creator content has become more professionally produced and even scaled via generative AI tools, the audience’s emotional relationship to creators has changed, as well.
    — William Daddi, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of scale
Noun
  • Did Hayun’s decision to pull back on the plane’s yoke make the difference?
    — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • One of the leading explanations for its origin goes back to an older meaning of the word ‘bucket’ — a beam or yoke from which animals could be suspended during slaughter.
    — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of yoke

Phrases Containing span

Browse Nearby Words

spalls
span
spangle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Span.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/span. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on span

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about span

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All