1
: a slender pointed rod for holding meat over a fire
2
: a small point of land especially of sand or gravel running into a body of water
spit or spat
ˈspat 
; spitting
; spitting
1
a
: to eject (something) from the mouth : expectorate
b(1)
: to express (unpleasant or malicious feelings) by or as if by spitting
(2)
: to utter with a spitting sound or scornful expression
spat out his words
c
: to emit as if by spitting
especially
: to emit (precipitation) in driving particles or in flurries
spit rain
2
: to set to burning
spit a fuse
1
a(1)
: to eject saliva as an expression of aversion or contempt
(2)
: to exhibit contempt
b
: to eject matter (such as saliva) from the mouth : expectorate
2
: to rain or snow slightly or in flurries
3
: to make a noise suggesting expectoration : sputter
1
b(1)
: a frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs
(2)
2
: perfect likeness
3
: a sprinkle of rain or flurry of snow
Synonyms
Examples of spit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The two of them performing, spitting into the same microphone, is an unmatched rock ‘n roll force.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2024
During a skit rehearsal, Bates tells Rolling Stone a cast member went off script and spit milk in her face.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
The three-body problem spit out chaos, yet again, when my liberal wife saw the scene.
—Joel Stein, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Maybelline Que, the association’s vice president, who has been a nurse at Valley Medical for a decade, said nurses are often yelled at, kicked, slapped, spit on or groped by patients.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
In 2021, during a stay at a mental health treatment center for prisoners, Williams kicked and threatened to spit on staff member, and hit one in the head with a bar of soap, according to a criminal complaint.
—Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024
Name Uncle Kracker Best known for Being spit out of Kid Rock’s womb and landing in Kenny Chesney’s lap.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2024
The deluge of lower-quality ecommerce listings has partly been enabled by generative AI tools, which allow sellers to spit out product names and descriptions with a few taps on the keyboard.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
And while the sides — pans of mac and cheese, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes — sit on a heated rack behind the counter, the only things that move are eight plump chickens, rotating on a spit.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
For an example look to the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, who arrived in the same draft, was taken one spit lower and also has made one Pro Bowl.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
On Kingman Island, a 40-acre spit of land in the Anacostia River, environmental protection specialist Lee Cain stands in front of a pile of wooden debris.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Book the private loungers in the tiny spit below the basement, which sit on their own cove, and don’t leave without trying the spaghettoni al pomodoro, tomato pasta perfection.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024
Barr told the Washington Post that the crotch grab and spit were a mocking of habits of baseball players.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024
Prosecutors also allege Redden spit on a law enforcement officer during the courtroom violence.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024
The wine with lunch tasting model is a familiar setting in Europe, where multi-course lunches cooked by vintner themselves offer guests more than a swirl and a spit.
—Joe Sills, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Chicago South Side native Mari Zavala raised her eyes at the shining red giant that spits out packets of ketchup with a slam of your hand.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The two of them performing, spitting into the same microphone, is an unmatched rock ‘n roll force.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2024
During a skit rehearsal, Bates tells Rolling Stone a cast member went off script and spit milk in her face.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
The three-body problem spit out chaos, yet again, when my liberal wife saw the scene.
—Joel Stein, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Maybelline Que, the association’s vice president, who has been a nurse at Valley Medical for a decade, said nurses are often yelled at, kicked, slapped, spit on or groped by patients.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
In 2021, during a stay at a mental health treatment center for prisoners, Williams kicked and threatened to spit on staff member, and hit one in the head with a bar of soap, according to a criminal complaint.
—Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024
Name Uncle Kracker Best known for Being spit out of Kid Rock’s womb and landing in Kenny Chesney’s lap.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2024
The deluge of lower-quality ecommerce listings has partly been enabled by generative AI tools, which allow sellers to spit out product names and descriptions with a few taps on the keyboard.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
What to order: The Wagyu beef shawarma, slow-cooked on a vertical spit, is the best protein option on the menu.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
And while the sides — pans of mac and cheese, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes — sit on a heated rack behind the counter, the only things that move are eight plump chickens, rotating on a spit.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
For an example look to the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, who arrived in the same draft, was taken one spit lower and also has made one Pro Bowl.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
On Kingman Island, a 40-acre spit of land in the Anacostia River, environmental protection specialist Lee Cain stands in front of a pile of wooden debris.
—Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Book the private loungers in the tiny spit below the basement, which sit on their own cove, and don’t leave without trying the spaghettoni al pomodoro, tomato pasta perfection.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024
Barr told the Washington Post that the crotch grab and spit were a mocking of habits of baseball players.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024
Prosecutors also allege Redden spit on a law enforcement officer during the courtroom violence.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024
The wine with lunch tasting model is a familiar setting in Europe, where multi-course lunches cooked by vintner themselves offer guests more than a swirl and a spit.
—Joe Sills, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spit
Cite this Entry
“Spit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spit. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spit
1 of 3 noun1
: a thin pointed rod for holding meat over a fire
2
: a small point of land that runs out into a body of water
spit
2 of 3 verb
spit or spat
ˈspat
; spitting
1
a
: to cause (as saliva) to spurt from the mouth : expectorate
b
: to express by or as if by spitting : make a spitting sound
2
a
: to give off briskly : emit
b
: to rain lightly or snow in flurries
spitter
noun
spit
3 of 3 noun1
a
: saliva
b
: the act of spitting
2
: a foamy secretion produced by spittlebugs
3
: perfect likeness
the spit and image of her father
Etymology
Noun
Old English spitu "a long rod for holding meat over a fire to cook"
Verb
Old English spittan "to spit (saliva) from the mouth"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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