1
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
2
: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)
3
: something (such as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray
1
: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
sprayed; spraying; sprays
1
: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into
spray the table
spraying the wall with bullets
2
: to disperse or apply as a spray
sprayed some perfume
1
: to break up into spray
2
: to disperse or apply a spray
3
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
sprayer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of spray in a Sentence
Verb
She sprayed herself with perfume.
The crops are sprayed monthly.
We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves.
The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall.
He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface.
She sprayed some perfume into the air.
The soda sprayed from the bottle.
The blood sprayed onto the wall.
They sprayed the crowd with bullets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
For example, trigger spray bottles are difficult to recycle, Sell says, so refilling one (as opposed to purchasing—and eventually disposing of—a new one) can potentially go a long way to reduce waste.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The flowers are followed very quickly by large clusters of berries that look like gorgeous sprays of decorative grapes.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
Also known to be a successful natural insecticide, a quick spray of chamomile tea in early morning before the heat of day can help fight off mites and other flying insect pests while being safe for pollinators such as honeybees.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
What’s the difference between setting powder and setting spray?
Which powder is best for setting makeup?
—Clare Holden, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2024
There are many non-toxic, benzene-free dry shampoos, both spray and powder, available on today’s market.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Brown noted that the Kings went 9 of 11 on spray 3s in the second half.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Hand-washing dirty dishes truly couldn’t get any easier: Just spray and wipe—that’s it!—to get rid of crusted-on oatmeal bits or coffee stains on your favorite mug.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
In California’s Monterey County, meanwhile, local and state officials are facing a lawsuit from a teachers union and environmentalists who don’t think strawberry farmers should be allowed to spray toxic pesticides near mostly Latino schools.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Those are the shooters who will be sprayed along the arc around Fox and Sabonis.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Currently 60% off, this adorable pink and green Melissa & Doug Flower Sprinkler Toy takes it up a notch by playfully spraying water out of each flower, giving my kids more jets of water to dodge or dash through.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Opioid overdoses, including fentanyl overdoses, can be reversed with naloxone, an over-the-counter nasal spray available at most pharmacies.
—Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Seatbelt violation ends in nearly 100 bullets sprayed For Sheila Banks, the late afternoon of March 21 began easy, with her son Dexter Reed heading out to enjoy his new SUV.
—USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
But the militants threw hand grenades and sprayed gunfire into the bunker, killing many and injuring others, including Hersh.
—Shira Pinson, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Put your hose on a misting setting and water (a spray bottle can be used for smaller areas).
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
For example, trigger spray bottles are difficult to recycle, Sell says, so refilling one (as opposed to purchasing—and eventually disposing of—a new one) can potentially go a long way to reduce waste.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
The brand has long eschewed a fast-fashion mentality, and encourages shoppers to take care of their shoes using its line of care products such as cleaning balms, sprays, and brushes.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
The flowers are followed very quickly by large clusters of berries that look like gorgeous sprays of decorative grapes.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
Also known to be a successful natural insecticide, a quick spray of chamomile tea in early morning before the heat of day can help fight off mites and other flying insect pests while being safe for pollinators such as honeybees.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
What’s the difference between setting powder and setting spray?
Which powder is best for setting makeup?
—Clare Holden, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2024
There are many non-toxic, benzene-free dry shampoos, both spray and powder, available on today’s market.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Brown noted that the Kings went 9 of 11 on spray 3s in the second half.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
Volunteer investigators found a Nerds candy rope had been removed from its original packaging, sprayed with delta-8, returned to the original package, and labeled as having delta-8.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Hand-washing dirty dishes truly couldn’t get any easier: Just spray and wipe—that’s it!—to get rid of crusted-on oatmeal bits or coffee stains on your favorite mug.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
In California’s Monterey County, meanwhile, local and state officials are facing a lawsuit from a teachers union and environmentalists who don’t think strawberry farmers should be allowed to spray toxic pesticides near mostly Latino schools.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Those are the shooters who will be sprayed along the arc around Fox and Sabonis.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
Currently 60% off, this adorable pink and green Melissa & Doug Flower Sprinkler Toy takes it up a notch by playfully spraying water out of each flower, giving my kids more jets of water to dodge or dash through.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Opioid overdoses, including fentanyl overdoses, can be reversed with naloxone, an over-the-counter nasal spray available at most pharmacies.
—Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Seatbelt violation ends in nearly 100 bullets sprayed For Sheila Banks, the late afternoon of March 21 began easy, with her son Dexter Reed heading out to enjoy his new SUV.
—USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
But the militants threw hand grenades and sprayed gunfire into the bunker, killing many and injuring others, including Hersh.
—Shira Pinson, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spray.' 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 spray
Cite this Entry
“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spray
1 of 3 noun
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
spray
2 of 3 noun1
: liquid flying in fine drops like water blown from a wave
2
a
: a burst of fine mist (as from an atomizer)
b
: a device (as an atomizer) for scattering a spray
spray
3 of 3 verb1
: to scatter or apply as a spray
2
: to scatter spray on or into
sprayer
noun
Medical Definition
spray
1 of 2 noun
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
specifically
: a jet of fine medicated vapor used as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or deodorant
spray
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
Legal Definition
spray
transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients
authorized to spray trust income—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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