spread out
phrasal 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
Hanukkah is spread out over eight days, so there's plenty of time to sing, dance, and enjoy festive music.
—
Fiona Tapp, Parents, 16 Dec. 2025
Trading him before June 1 would result in a $45 million hit on the Dolphins’ 2026 books; trading him after June 1 would carry a $13 million 2026 Dolphins cap hit, but would be followed by significant cap hits spread out over future years.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
Provide your indoor avocado tree with plenty of container space for the roots to grow in and spread out.
—Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2025
The radiant—the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to spread out from—is near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
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Fiona Tapp, Parents, 16 Dec. 2025
Trading him before June 1 would result in a $45 million hit on the Dolphins’ 2026 books; trading him after June 1 would carry a $13 million 2026 Dolphins cap hit, but would be followed by significant cap hits spread out over future years.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
Provide your indoor avocado tree with plenty of container space for the roots to grow in and spread out.
—Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2025
The radiant—the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to spread out from—is near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
Cite this Entry
“Spread out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spread%20out. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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