1
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
2
: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)
3
: something (such as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray
1
: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
sprayed; spraying; sprays
1
: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into
spray the table
spraying the wall with bullets
2
: to disperse or apply as a spray
sprayed some perfume
1
: to break up into spray
2
: to disperse or apply a spray
3
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
sprayer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of spray in a Sentence
Verb
She sprayed herself with perfume.
The crops are sprayed monthly.
We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves.
The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall.
He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface.
She sprayed some perfume into the air.
The soda sprayed from the bottle.
The blood sprayed onto the wall.
They sprayed the crowd with bullets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024
Approaches can be different for each person based on their symptoms and overall health, but common chronic rhinosinusitis treatments are antibiotics or steroids along with nose and sinus cavity sprays.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024
Celebrity makeup artist Dani Parkes recommends using a good setting spray or powder to lock your makeup in place and prevent it from rubbing onto your clothes.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024
Thanks to this set-and-forget spray from Mrs. Meyer’s, cleaning your shower is easier than ever: Just give it a quick spritz, walk away, and within a few hours any soap scum, mold, or mildew stains should wipe right off.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
The spray obscures much of the shirtless star's lower half, leading some flabbergasted fans to run to the comments.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Put your hose on a misting setting and water (a spray bottle can be used for smaller areas).
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
For example, trigger spray bottles are difficult to recycle, Sell says, so refilling one (as opposed to purchasing—and eventually disposing of—a new one) can potentially go a long way to reduce waste.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2024
The United States initially responded by spraying herbicides from planes in Guatemala, but suspended those efforts after flight crews came under concentrated gunfire.
—Simon Romero Daniele Volpe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
After waving my hair with a 1-inch curling wand, Toth sprayed my strands (from the top, aiming downward) with the Shu Uemura Moya Hold Finishing Hair Spray to keep them smooth.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 26 Apr. 2024
When their boat was sprayed with Corexit, Herring started throwing up so badly an ambulance was called to pick him up.
—Travis Loller, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
Similar concerns surround another geoengineering technique that involves spraying salt compounds into the air to brighten clouds, which would in turn bounce sunlight back into space.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
The SouthPark blaze was apparently sparked when spray foam insulation caught fire on the ground floor, fire officials said.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024
Schubert also attempted to punch the officer and only retreated from the fighting after he was sprayed with a chemical irritant, according to the release.
—Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Volunteer investigators found a Nerds candy rope had been removed from its original packaging, sprayed with delta-8, returned to the original package, and labeled as having delta-8.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Noun
Do not follow large vehicles closely — Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024
Approaches can be different for each person based on their symptoms and overall health, but common chronic rhinosinusitis treatments are antibiotics or steroids along with nose and sinus cavity sprays.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024
Celebrity makeup artist Dani Parkes recommends using a good setting spray or powder to lock your makeup in place and prevent it from rubbing onto your clothes.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024
Thanks to this set-and-forget spray from Mrs. Meyer’s, cleaning your shower is easier than ever: Just give it a quick spritz, walk away, and within a few hours any soap scum, mold, or mildew stains should wipe right off.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
The spray obscures much of the shirtless star's lower half, leading some flabbergasted fans to run to the comments.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Put your hose on a misting setting and water (a spray bottle can be used for smaller areas).
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
For example, trigger spray bottles are difficult to recycle, Sell says, so refilling one (as opposed to purchasing—and eventually disposing of—a new one) can potentially go a long way to reduce waste.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
Place a piece of parchment paper on the surface of the skillet, and spray it as well.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2024
The United States initially responded by spraying herbicides from planes in Guatemala, but suspended those efforts after flight crews came under concentrated gunfire.
—Simon Romero Daniele Volpe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
After waving my hair with a 1-inch curling wand, Toth sprayed my strands (from the top, aiming downward) with the Shu Uemura Moya Hold Finishing Hair Spray to keep them smooth.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 26 Apr. 2024
When their boat was sprayed with Corexit, Herring started throwing up so badly an ambulance was called to pick him up.
—Travis Loller, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
Similar concerns surround another geoengineering technique that involves spraying salt compounds into the air to brighten clouds, which would in turn bounce sunlight back into space.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
The SouthPark blaze was apparently sparked when spray foam insulation caught fire on the ground floor, fire officials said.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024
Schubert also attempted to punch the officer and only retreated from the fighting after he was sprayed with a chemical irritant, according to the release.
—Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
Volunteer investigators found a Nerds candy rope had been removed from its original packaging, sprayed with delta-8, returned to the original package, and labeled as having delta-8.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spray
Cite this Entry
“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spray
1 of 3 noun
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
spray
2 of 3 noun1
: liquid flying in fine drops like water blown from a wave
2
a
: a burst of fine mist (as from an atomizer)
b
: a device (as an atomizer) for scattering a spray
spray
3 of 3 verb1
: to scatter or apply as a spray
2
: to scatter spray on or into
sprayer
noun
Medical Definition
spray
1 of 2 noun
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
specifically
: a jet of fine medicated vapor used as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or deodorant
spray
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
Legal Definition
spray
transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients
authorized to spray trust income—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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