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

With the fires spread out across the state, emergency response teams could use more personnel, said state forester Jamie Barnes. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 27 June 2026

The tournament is too spread out over three countries and will lack the festive vibe that makes the World Cup so special. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026

Those funds have dropped between 11% and 47% year over year when adjusted for inflation, and are spread out among all of NASA’s facilities. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026

No other sports empire on our list owns controlling stakes in teams as diverse — NFL, NBA, NHL, Premiere League soccer — or as widely spread out geographically — Los Angeles, Denver, London — as KSE. — Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 26 June 2026

Rhymes for spread out

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