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 team had expected the beam to spread out and become disrupted. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025

After being taken into the chapel at the statue's base, the Prince of Wales spent time with the 2025 Earthshot Prize finalists at the iconic landmark ahead of the ceremony tonight, talking to them in groups spread out along the sightseeing platform. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025

Ensure the reeds are spread out. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025

Weddings are expensive, after all, and delaying the big honeymoon trip can help ease the blow by spreading out the cost. —Jim Augerinos, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for spread out

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