space

1 of 2

noun

ˈspās 

often attributive

1

: a period of time

also : its duration

2

a

: a limited extent in one, two, or three dimensions : distance, area, volume

b

: an extent set apart or available

parking space

floor space

c

: the distance from other people or things that a person needs in order to remain comfortable

invading my personal space

3

: one of the degrees between or above or below the lines of a musical staff compare line

4

a

: a boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction

infinite space and time

b

: physical space independent of what occupies it

called also absolute space

5

: the region beyond the earth's atmosphere or beyond the solar system

6

a

: a blank area separating words or lines

b

: material used to produce such blank area

especially : a piece of type less than one en in width

7

: a set of mathematical elements and especially of abstractions of all the points on a line, in a plane, or in physical space

especially : a set of mathematical entities with a set of axioms of geometric character compare metric space, topological space, vector space

8

a

: linage

b

: broadcast time available especially to advertisers

9

: accommodations on a public vehicle

10

a

: the opportunity to assert or experience one's identity or needs freely

b

: an opportunity for privacy or time to oneself

space

2 of 2

verb

spaced; spacing

transitive verb

: to place at intervals or arrange with space between

Evenly space 16 tablespoons of shredded cheese on the baking sheet …

—The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

—often used with out

Space out the work you plan to do … Don't try to crowd too much into each day.

—Darlene Polachic

intransitive verb

1

: to leave one or more blank spaces (as in a line of typing)

2

informal : to fail to remember something : forget

… I totally forgot to write last week. I had planned to do it, I had it all figured out, and I spaced.

—Steve "Nookie" Postal

—often used with on

If your mom doesn't live close by, or if you totally spaced on getting her a Mother's Day gift this year, then flowers or chocolates are a great, last-minute gift idea that are sure to brighten her day.

—Leah Stodart

see also space out

Synonyms

Noun

• elbow room
• place
• room
• way

Examples of space in a Sentence

Noun

There's still some space for a bookshelf.

the space behind the couch

Is there space in the cabinet for these dishes?

There's not much empty space.

He moved the books to create more space on his desk.

Those old boxes take up a lot of space.

The magazine devotes a lot of space to advertising.

She has a space between her front teeth.

There isn't much space between our houses.

the wide open spaces of the western U.S.

Verb

Space the seedlings about six inches apart.

He spaces his albums so that he puts one out every two to three years.

They spaced the births of their three children two years apart.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The combination of humor, humility, and skill made Arya stand out in a space dominated by polished perfection. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025

Will Stein, the offensive coordinator at Oregon under head coach Dan Lanning, runs a multiple spread offense that utilized Ferguson as a blocker, motion player, and receiver and aims to manipulate space in the passing game. —Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Verb

Most drywall specifications call for screw spacing to be 16 inches on center for walls. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025

Just as important as the consistent thickness and quality of the wood pieces is the spacing between them. —Roger Catlin, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French espace, space, from Latin spatium area, room, interval of space or time

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing space

• absolute space
• a waste of space
• Banach space
• breathing space
• counter space
• crawl space
• dead-air space
• dead space
• deep space
• double-space
• euclidean space
• half-space
• Hilbert space
• inner space
• invade someone's space
• in/within the space of
• linear space
• maker space
• metric space
• null-space
• outer space
• parking place/space/spot
• personal space
• safe space
• sample space
• short space of time
• single-space
• space-age
• space bar
• space cadet
• space charge
• space elevator
• space force
• space frame
• space heater
• space heating
• space lattice
• space mark
• space medicine
• space opera
• space out
• space probe
• space shuttle
• space station
• space suit
• space-time
• space walk
• stare/gaze (off) into space
• topological space
• triple-space
• vector space
• white space

Rhymes for space

• ace
• base
• brace
• case
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• mace
• pace
• place

Kids Definition

space

1 of 2 noun

ˈspās 

1

: a period of time

2

a

: a limited extent in one, two, or three dimensions : distance, area, volume

b

: an area set apart or available

parking space

floor space

3

: the limitless three-dimensional extent in which all things exist and move

4

: the region beyond the earth's atmosphere

5

: a blank area separating words or lines

6

: an available seat on a public vehicle

space

2 of 2 verb

spaced; spacing

: to place with space between

space out the chairs one foot apart

Medical Definition

space

noun

ˈspās 

1

: a period of time

also : its duration

2

: a limited extent in one, two, or three dimensions

3

: a particular area or cavity within the body