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
1
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
Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
The nine titles revealed by organizers on Thursday span the festival’s Bright Future and Harbour programming strands.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
The number has skyrocketed so astronomically because, unlike in the previous record-setting shutdown that spanned from 2018 to 2019, Democrats have blocked the Pentagon-specific appropriations bill that would allow some 2 million military members to be paid.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for span
Verb
The project’s vision includes restaurants, bars, shops, and event spaces — transforming the historic span into a vibrant public gathering place just steps from the Hy-Vee Arena.
—Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
The nine titles revealed by organizers on Thursday span the festival’s Bright Future and Harbour programming strands.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
Housed in a former plastic bottle factory in an industrial suburb between Athens and the port city of Piraeus, Onassis Ready spans more than 40,000 square feet.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
The number has skyrocketed so astronomically because, unlike in the previous record-setting shutdown that spanned from 2018 to 2019, Democrats have blocked the Pentagon-specific appropriations bill that would allow some 2 million military members to be paid.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for span
Recent Examples of Synonyms for span
Verb
-
Today, those physical infrastructure requirements—the chips and the data centers behind them—operate on a staggering scale, with energy needs measured in gigawatts.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Although Thai-language content is popular, Chinese dramas have become the biggest content category in Thailand when measured by engagement, accounting for a 30% share, compared to 21% for local dramas, 20% for animation and 17% for Korean dramas.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on his Mariana Trench-deep roster, and the bench shortened by circumstance delivered a 77-45 win powered by a pair of true freshmen and a typically frenetic defensive effort.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The pair married at New York City Hall earlier this year.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Following his direction of Flight Risk earlier this year, Gibson has Hunting Season and The Canyon among his upcoming acting projects.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Weekly Newsletter Hamida’s first such meeting is with a twelve-year-old Hindu girl named Kammo, whose father abandoned her after the death of her mother.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In other words, male respectability was gauged by how successfully women’s bodies were regulated.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
John Fitzgibbons, a Tampa criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, said in rare cases, a grand jury can be used to gauge citizen sentiment, like whether grand jury members think a witness is reliable.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While Aldrin is very much alive, his wife, Anca Faur, died Tuesday at age 66, just two years after the couple married.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
-
While the hosts dressed up to match the western theme, other couples took the opportunity to demonstrate their own creativity with their costumes.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
By creating space for these histories in her fictive realm, Pritam strove to remember those on the periphery.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The rest of the compartment is roomy with enough space to fit a makeup compact, lip balm, and a Kindle.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The technology has demonstrated promise at lab scale and could be scaled up for commercial production, according to the research team.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
At a time of a dramatic and abrupt scaling back of federal foreign aid, some say this simple practice is more important than ever.—
NPR,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The characters from Malczewski’s canvases march through successive decades, fighting and fleeing various yokes.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Try the trend in this dark-wash style with slimming mesh panels, a curved back yoke, classic five-pocket styling, and petite sizes 0–16.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Span.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/span. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share