spread out

verb

spread out; spreading out; spreads out

1

: to open, arrange, or place (something) over a large area

He spread out the map on the table.

He spread the cards out on the table.

The cards were spread out across the table.

2

: to be open, arranged, or extended over a large area

The city is spread out over a wide area.

3

: to move (parts of the body) outward or away from each other

Spread your arms out.

There's no room on the couch to spread yourself out.

4

: to divide up (something) over a period of time or among members of a group

They spread the work out among the committee members.

The course is spread out over two semesters.

5

: to move apart from the other members of a group especially to search an area

The police spread out to search the area faster.

Examples of spread out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the team expands, performance tends to spread out as well. —Jeff Winters, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Today, visitors can explore the fortress, spread out for a picnic on the green lawn and take in sweeping views of America’s Oldest City from the gun deck. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026

If your loans have been consolidated, they may be spread out over a longer period, up to 30 years. —Cory Turner, NPR, 10 June 2026

This city's got burgers for days, spread out across neighborhoods and dietary preferences. —Alanna Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026

Rhymes for spread out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout