spot
verb
spotted; spotting
1
: to stain the character or reputation of : disgrace
2
: to mark in or with a spot : stain
The rug was spotted with paint.
His pants were spotted with mud.
3
: to locate or identify by a spot
4
a
: to single out : identify
especially
: to note as a known criminal or a suspicious person
c(1)
: to locate accurately
spot an enemy position
(2)
: to cause to strike accurately
spot the battery's fire
d
: to watch or assist (someone) during athletic competition or exercise (as for gymnastics or weight lifting) especially to prevent injury
She's the darling of the weight room wherever she works out, spotting guys twice her size.—
Rick Reilly
Rick Reilly5
a
: to lie at intervals in or over : stud
small boats spotting the harbor
b
: to place at intervals or in a desired spot
spot field telephones
c
: to fix in or as if in the beam of a spotlight
d
: to schedule in a particular spot or at a particular time
spotted the main act at 9 p.m.
e
American football
: to put (the football) at the appropriate place on the field in preparation for the next play
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
6
: to remove a spot from
7
a
: to give a specified advantage to (an opponent) : to allow as a handicap (see handicap entry 1 sense 1b)
She spotted me five points and still beat me easily.
spot him two strokes a hole in golf
b
informal
: to lend (someone) a usually small amount of money
Can you spot me five bucks?
1
: to become stained or discolored in spots
Fungus caused the leaves to spot.
2
: to cause a spot
a detergent that always spots
3
: to act as a spotter
especially
: to locate targets
4
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
Examples of spot in a Sentence
She spotted a deer in the woods.
The band's lead singer was recently spotted with a well-known actress.
They spotted us five points, and we still lost.
I'm a little short of cash. Can you spot me five bucks?
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
Recent Examples on the Web
Both were able to spot tracks, on dusty roads, and follow the tracks to successfully find wildlife.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Last week, the singer was spotted in a friend’s Instagram post wearing an airy sundress and coordinating white sneakers during a trip to London.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Her famous mom Teresa Giudice wasn’t spotted in the crowd.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
While grabbing a drink nearby, Sakti spotted a shopper carrying a giant Olive Young tote overflowing with products.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Last week, the singer was spotted in a friend’s Instagram post wearing an airy sundress and coordinating white sneakers during a trip to London.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Her famous mom Teresa Giudice wasn’t spotted in the crowd.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
While grabbing a drink nearby, Sakti spotted a shopper carrying a giant Olive Young tote overflowing with products.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spot
Cite this Entry
“Spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spot. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spot
1 of 3 noun1
: something bad that others know about one : fault
2
a
: a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
b
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
c
: a small diseased or decayed area on the body surface of a plant or animal
spots of rot on a leaf
spots of chicken pox
3
a
: a small quantity or amount
b
: a particular place
a good spot for a picnic
a sore spot
4
: a particular position (as in an organization or on a program)
6
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
put someone in a spot
7
: a short broadcast announcement or advertisement
spot
2 of 3 verb
spotted; spotting
1
: to mark or become marked with or as if with spots
2
: to single out : identify
spot a friend in a crowd
spot
3 of 3 adjective1
a
: done on the spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: paid upon delivery
spot cash
c
: involving immediate cash payment
the spot market for oil
d
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
2
: made from time to time or in a few places or instances
a spot check
Medical Definition
spot
1 of 2 noun
: a circumscribed mark or area: as
a
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (as measles)
b
: a circumscribed abnormality in an organ seen by means of X-rays or an instrument
X-rays revealed a spot on the lung
spot
2 of 2 intransitive verb
spotted; spotting
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
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