span

1 of 4

ˈspan 

archaic past tense of spin

span

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand

also : an English unit of length equal to nine inches (22.9 centimeters)

2

: an extent, stretch, reach, or spread between two limits: such as

a

: a limited space (as of time)

especially : an individual's lifetime

b

: the spread or extent between abutments or supports (as of a bridge)

also : a portion thus supported

c

: the maximum distance laterally from tip to tip of an airplane

span

3 of 4

verb

spanned; spanning

transitive verb

1

a

: to measure by or as if by the hand with fingers and thumb extended

b

: measure

2

a

: to extend across

a career that spanned four decades

b

: to form an arch over

a small bridge spanned the pond

c

: to place or construct a span over

3

: to be capable of expressing any element of under given operations

a set of vectors that spans a vector space

span

4 of 4

noun

: a pair of animals (such as mules) usually matched in appearance and action and driven together

Synonyms

Verb

• gauge
• gage
• measure
• scale

Examples of span in a Sentence

Verb

His career as a singer spanned three decades.

Their empire once spanned several continents.

Her academic interests span a wide variety of topics.

A bridge spans the river.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Knox and his team’s work is an exemplar of how multidisciplinary research spanning meteorology, cartography, geography, and other social sciences disciplines can inform decisionmakers and save lives. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

What To Know At a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on Tuesday, Xi announced a dozen cooperation agreements spanning green mining, trade, connectivity, personnel exchanges, and customs, according to Chinese state media. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

Noun

The 70-year-old journalist broke out her unbelievably comfortable high-heel sneakers yet again — not just once or twice, but three times within the span of a week. —Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 20 June 2025

According to an Institute for Science and International Security report, the site has the ability to produce enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear warhead in the span of mere days. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English spann; akin to Old High German spanna span, Middle Dutch spannen to stretch, hitch up

Noun

Dutch, from Middle Dutch, from spannen to hitch up

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1769, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing span

• attention span
• health span
• life span
• span-new
• spic-and-span
• spick-and-span
• time span

Rhymes for span

• an
• ban
• bran
• can
• cann
• clan
• duan
• fan
• flan
• gran
• jann
• klan

Kids Definition

span

1 of 3 noun

ˈspan 

1

: the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand

also : an English unit of length equal to 9 inches (about 22.9 centimeters)

2

a

: a limited portion of time

span of life

b

: the spread (as of an arch) from one support to another

c

: the portion supported to form a span

span

2 of 3 verb

spanned; spanning

1

a

: to measure by or as if by the hand with fingers and thumb extended

b

: measure entry 2 sense 2

2

a

: to reach or extend across

a bridge spans the river

a career that spans four decades

b

: to place or construct a span over

span

3 of 3 noun

: a pair of animals (as mules) driven together

Etymology

Noun

Old English spann "distance measured by the outstretched hand"

Noun

from Dutch span "a pair of animals driven together," derived from earlier spannen "to hitch up"

Medical Definition

span

noun

ˈspan 

1

: an extent of distance or of time

especially : life span

2

: memory span