1
: a taint on character or reputation : fault
the only spot on the family name
2
a
: a small area visibly different (as in color, finish, or material) from the surrounding area
b(1)
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
(2)
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (such as measles) or decay
spots of rot
rust spots on a leaf
c
: a conventionalized design used on playing cards to distinguish the suits and indicate values
3
: an object having a specified number of spots or a specified numeral on its surface
4
: a small quantity or amount : bit
5
a
: a particular place, area, or part
b
: a small extent of space
6
plural usually spot
: a small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast with a black spot behind the opercula
7
a
: a particular position (as in an organization or a hierarchy)
b
: a place or appearance on an entertainment program
8
9
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
10
: a brief announcement or advertisement broadcast between scheduled radio or television programs
11
: a brief segment or report on a broadcast especially of news
spotted; spotting
1
: to stain the character or reputation of : disgrace
2
: to mark in or with a spot : stain
The snow was spotted with blood.
His pants were spotted with mud.
3
: to locate or identify by a spot
4
a
: to single out : identify
especially
: to note as a known criminal or a suspicious person
c(1)
: to locate accurately
spot an enemy position
(2)
: to cause to strike accurately
spot the battery's fire
d
: to watch or assist (someone) during athletic competition or exercise (as for gymnastics or weight lifting) especially to prevent injury
She's the darling of the weight room wherever she works out, spotting guys twice her size.—
Rick Reilly
Rick Reilly5
a
: to lie at intervals in or over : stud
small boats spotting the harbor
b
: to place at intervals or in a desired spot
spot field telephones
c
: to fix in or as if in the beam of a spotlight
d
: to schedule in a particular spot or at a particular time
spotted the main act at 9 p.m.
e
football
: to put (the football) at the appropriate place on the field in preparation for the next play
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
6
: to remove a spot from
7
a
: to give a specified advantage to (an opponent) : to allow as a handicap (see handicap entry 1 sense 1b)
She spotted me five points and still beat me easily.
spot him two strokes a hole in golf
b
informal
: to lend (someone) a usually small amount of money
Can you spot me five bucks?
1
: to become stained or discolored in spots
Fungus caused the leaves to spot.
2
: to cause a spot
a detergent that always spots
3
: to act as a spotter
especially
: to locate targets
4
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
1
a
: being, originating, or done on the spot or in or for a particular spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: available for immediate delivery after sale
spot commodities
c(1)
: paid out upon delivery
spot cash
(2)
: involving immediate cash payment
a spot transaction
d(1)
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
(2)
: originating in a local station for a national advertiser
e
: performing occasionally when needed
a spot starter
2
: made at random or restricted to a few places or instances
a spot check
also
: selected at random or as a sample
Examples of spot in a Sentence
Noun
The wood still has some rough spots.
The chair's original paint is still visible in spots.
He fell through a weak spot in the ice.
The tablecloth had a couple of spots.
There were mud spots on the back of his pants.
rust spots on the metal
I noticed some red spots on my arms.
spots of rot on the leaf
a teenager with spots on his face
This looks like a good spot for a picnic.
Verb
She spotted a deer in the woods.
The band's lead singer was recently spotted with a well-known actress.
They spotted us five points, and we still lost.
I'm a little short of cash. Can you spot me five bucks?
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
Adjective
the difference between futures and spot commodities
the spot price of wheat
Recent Examples on the Web
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Aneurysms form when a weak spot develops in a blood vessel wall, often due to things like high blood pressure, smoking, or genetics.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 2025
Since then, the pair can often be spotted on each other’s social media accounts.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Their speed allows organizations to uncover strategic insights, spot emerging market changes, prevent fraud and predict maintenance needs.
—Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spot
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.
Noun
This Navfalcon Hidden Camera Detector has earned a permanent spot in my travel bag; this gadget picks up the radio frequency (RF) signals that are emitted by cameras and alerts you when these wireless signals have been detected.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Aneurysms form when a weak spot develops in a blood vessel wall, often due to things like high blood pressure, smoking, or genetics.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Challenge Our team started this research in summer 2023, when one of us, a space weather expert, spotted inconsistencies in space weather observations.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 2025
Since then, the pair can often be spotted on each other’s social media accounts.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
But Yankees fans will have to hope that Weaver's assessment is spot on as the team desperately needs another reliable bullpen performer.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Their speed allows organizations to uncover strategic insights, spot emerging market changes, prevent fraud and predict maintenance needs.
—Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spot
Cite this Entry
“Spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spot. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spot
1 of 3 noun1
: something bad that others know about one : fault
2
a
: a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
b
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
c
: a small diseased or decayed area on the body surface of a plant or animal
spots of rot on a leaf
spots of chicken pox
3
a
: a small quantity or amount
b
: a particular place
a good spot for a picnic
a sore spot
4
: a particular position (as in an organization or on a program)
6
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
put someone in a spot
7
: a short broadcast announcement or advertisement
spot
2 of 3 verb
spotted; spotting
1
: to mark or become marked with or as if with spots
2
: to single out : identify
spot a friend in a crowd
spot
3 of 3 adjective1
a
: done on the spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: paid upon delivery
spot cash
c
: involving immediate cash payment
the spot market for oil
d
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
2
: made from time to time or in a few places or instances
a spot check
Medical Definition
spot
1 of 2 noun
: a circumscribed mark or area: as
a
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (as measles)
b
: a circumscribed abnormality in an organ seen by means of X-rays or an instrument
X-rays revealed a spot on the lung
spot
2 of 2 intransitive verb
spotted; spotting
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
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