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
No special skills were needed to locate the bounty given they were spread out across the grass in plain sight.
—
Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
About 75 residents were present spread out among the historic church’s wooden pews to watch the event.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
The jury, made up of 10 men and two women, returned the verdict on Friday, after nearly nine hours of deliberation spread out over the course of three days.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
Having moved nearly four years ago from a 15,000-square-foot warehouse in Williamsburg to a street-level cubbyhole on the side of 30 Rock, Rough Trade finally has some room to spread out in the Art Deco complex.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
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Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
About 75 residents were present spread out among the historic church’s wooden pews to watch the event.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
The jury, made up of 10 men and two women, returned the verdict on Friday, after nearly nine hours of deliberation spread out over the course of three days.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
Having moved nearly four years ago from a 15,000-square-foot warehouse in Williamsburg to a street-level cubbyhole on the side of 30 Rock, Rough Trade finally has some room to spread out in the Art Deco complex.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 11 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2025.
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