spate

noun

ˈspāt 

1

a

: a large number or amount

a spate of books

b

: a sudden or strong outburst : rush

a spate of anger

2

: freshet, flood

Synonyms of spate

• flood
• torrent

Examples of spate in a Sentence

A spate of books on the subject have come out recently.

There was a spate of corporate mergers in the 1980s.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then came the ‘70s and a spate of often schlocky but still unsettling films that married the two notions. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Public pressure mounts in Washington The spate of security breaches has only intensified pressure on Republicans in Washington who were already struggling to manage a wave of political backlash over data centers. — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

In August 2015, another spate of land mine blasts that maimed two South Korean soldiers and sharply raised tensions between the Koreas. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Today, the challenges facing the continent include a humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, a spate of kidnappings and killings in Nigeria, and conflict between rebels and government forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. — Goodluck Ajeh, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing spate

• in spate

Rhymes for spate

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

spate

noun

ˈspāt 

: a sudden flood or rush