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
The shoes have a wide toe box with plenty of room for feet to spread out, which helps prevent painful pinching and accommodates foot issues.
—
Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
In the meantime, eagles continue to spread out across the state.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Those $1 billion-plus prizes on all the ads only pay out that much, in total, if the winner chooses to receive their winnings in the form of a smaller annual payment spread out over decades – which virtually no one does.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
With the first option, the jackpot amount is spread out over 30 years as an annual payment.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
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Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
In the meantime, eagles continue to spread out across the state.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Those $1 billion-plus prizes on all the ads only pay out that much, in total, if the winner chooses to receive their winnings in the form of a smaller annual payment spread out over decades – which virtually no one does.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
With the first option, the jackpot amount is spread out over 30 years as an annual payment.
—Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 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 8 Sep. 2025.
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