spear

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈspir 

1

: a thrusting or throwing weapon with long shaft and sharp head or blade

2

: a sharp-pointed instrument with barbs used in spearing fish

3

: something (such as a shoot of asparagus) resembling a spear

4

: spearman

spear

2 of 5

verb (1)

speared; spearing; spears

transitive verb

1

: to pierce, strike, or take with or as if with a spear

spear salmon

speared a chop from the platter

2

: to catch (something, such as a baseball) with a sudden thrust of the arm

3

a

ice hockey : to jab (an opposing player) with the blade of one's stick

All game, the Caps held, hooked, slashed, speared, chopped, and bopped … the Rangers' European players.

—Stu Hackel

b

American football : to ram (an opposing player) with one's helmet

… defensive end Ben Davidson set off a sidelines-clearing scrum when he speared Dawson from behind after he was down.

—Jim Trotter

intransitive verb

: to thrust at or wound something with or as if with a spear

spearer noun

spear

3 of 5

adjective

: paternal sense 3

the spear side of the family

compare distaff

spear

4 of 5

verb (2)

speared; spearing; spears

intransitive verb

of a plant

: to thrust a spear upward

spear

5 of 5

noun (2)

: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)

Synonyms of spear

Noun (1)

• javelin
• lance

Verb (1)

• stab
• pierce
• puncture
• jab
• pick
• stick
• lance

Examples of spear in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the Roman gladiator thrust his spear triumphantly into the lion's side

Verb (1)

she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The two traded heavy shots that spilled throughout the ringside area, with Punk smashing Reigns into the announce table and ring post while Reigns responded with a spear. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026

There are bundles of taut chives still topped with blossoms, sweet and tender spears of asparagus, and creamy new potatoes all waiting to be snapped up. —Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026

Verb

Zaria speared Ruca before her women’s championship match against Jacy Jayne in February, ending the team and sparking a feud that will culminate in an emotional match Saturday at Stand & Deliver – the biggest show of the year for NXT. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

As settlers moved into the area and took tribal lands near the river for farming, the Bindjareb resorted to taking the settlers’ crops and spearing their cattle for food. —Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English spere, from Old English; akin to Old High German sper spear, Latin sparus hunting spear

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

alteration of spire entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1573, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1647, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spear

• spear-carrier
• spear-phishing
• spear-thrower

Rhymes for spear

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

spear

1 of 3 noun

ˈspi(ə)r 

1

: a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade used for throwing or jabbing

2

: an instrument with a sharp point and curved hooks used in spearing fish

3

: spearman

spear

2 of 3 verb

: to pierce or strike with or as if with a spear

spearer noun

spear

3 of 3 noun

: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)