How to Use splay in a Sentence

splay

1 of 2 verb

• He sat with his legs splayed apart.
• His fingers splayed out over the table as he steadied himself.
• She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.
• If nails get too long, over time that can cause your dog's paws to splay.
  — Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 4 Aug. 2023
• Raise your hands above your head with your fingers splayed and the band wide.
  — Stephanie Mansour, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2020
• So, at this point, the three big floor joists were splayed out into the air.
  — Ryan D'agostino, Popular Mechanics, 23 Jan. 2019
• The arms were splayed overhead, the back was arched and the feet were curled to the right.
  — John Branch, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Dec. 2017
• Nana Rose is splayed at the bottom of the stairs (but not dead)!
  — Jessica MacLeish, Teen Vogue, 22 Mar. 2018
• His frozen arms were bent at the elbows and splayed downhill over his head.
  — Krista Stevens, Longreads, 20 Dec. 2017
• And the super-roomy toe box allowed my feet to splay out with each step.
  — Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 26 Apr. 2019
• The man’s feet were splayed against the pink tile on either side of the spigot.
  — Jamie Quatro, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
• Press your heels together and splay your knees out so that they are opened up wider than your hips.
  — Jenny McCoy, SELF, 27 June 2018
• The last offers a wider forefoot to let the foot splay out across the pedal.
  — Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2021
• My toes splayed out onto the sand, the ground below me, shifting.
  — Suzanne Roberts, Longreads, 15 July 2019
• Across the boat, a young guy with thin lips and a sweater tied around his shoulders leans back and splays his legs.
  — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
• Folks splayed out on blankets across the grassy lawns, fanned themselves and cooled off with cold beers.
  — Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
• His fingers splayed and writhed like a terrible mandible.
  — Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
• But the best part is the one long, thick, platonic strip of bacon splayed over the top.
  — Priya Krishna, Bon Appétit, 12 Nov. 2019
• The full video shows a man — Retes — splayed on the ground surrounded by agents.
  — Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
• Limbs unfurl and slice, hands and feet flex and point, fingers splayed or curled inward like claws.
  — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
• On the album cover, she’s splayed across a blue-gray carpet in a brown sweater and sheer tights.
  — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
• The deer was seen lying down with all its extremities splayed out.
  — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2023
• June says in voiceover at the end, splayed out like a crime scene chalk outline and left unblinking on the bed.
  — refinery29.com, 20 June 2018
• Fifty men now lie supine on the floor, their arms splayed out messianically to the side.
  — Barrett Swanson, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
• The marmot looks paralyzed by fear, its fingers splayed and mouth agape.
  — Natasha Daly, National Geographic, 15 Oct. 2019
• Isabelle hops, arms splayed upward, hits the water, and swims to Mom.
  — Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
• His bobbing body, with arms splayed, looked for a moment like a corpse, or like Christ on the cross.
  — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 Oct. 2019
• One moment, she’s splayed across the marquetry top of the dining table.
  — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
• His feet splayed slightly outward and his gait was even and measured, the pace of a man of purpose.
  — Scott Johnson, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 July 2023
• While its front legs go straight down, like most mammals, its back legs are splayed out to either side like a reptile.
  — Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2020

splay

2 of 2 noun

• Peonies fall victim to spring storms; stems splay or break and cannot be righted.
  — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2021
• The fin on the fish’s back breaks the water first, then the delicate splay of its tail.
  — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
• The shoe is snug in the heel but wide in the forefoot, allowing for toe splay and blood flow.
  — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 27 May 2022
• The Chagossians bent to their knees and kissed the sand, leaving a splay of palm prints.
  — Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
• Three easy exercises are the short foot, foot splay and toe yoga.
  — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 4 Jan. 2022
• Fit is true-to-size, with enough room in the toe box to allow for a natural toe splay over the wide sole.
  — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022
• For those who have wide feet, Altra stands out for its unique toe box design that allows for full toe splay.
  — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 4 Dec. 2018
• The upper fit was found true to size and the toe box ample for most, but not wide enough for those who count on full splay or who have a high volume foot.
  — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 27 Apr. 2020
• Fans of zero-drop shoes that accommodate full toe splay will enjoy this comfy number.
  — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 10 June 2022
• Explanations for the whys and hows this happened splay every direction.
  — Tom Noie, Indianapolis Star, 14 Jan. 2020
• Tall stalks of foam bend and splay to the human form, so object and sitter, together, make a unique, changing sculpture.
  — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 29 Feb. 2020
• For some people, simply switching shoes (and possibly ditching their socks) is enough to help their toes achieve proper splay.
  — Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
• My students’ affront felt as sensible to me as expecting anatomy classes to flag each splay of flesh.
  — Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
• It is shaped like my foot, snugging and securing the heel and arch while relaxing and opening up at the ball to allow for toe splay and flex.
  — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 16 Apr. 2020
• On the one hand, testers appreciated the rather voluminous fit for its comfort and natural toe-splay.
  — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022
• Merrell designed this pair specifically for women, with our specific toe splay, hip width, and arch propensities in mind.
  — Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2022
• These are super lightweight and flexible kicks with a zero drop, designed to help improve natural running and walking form and toe splay.
  — Locke Hughes, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2019
• Words in languages current, ancient and legendary splay across its doors, bumpers and hatches, predicting a future in which the people of the world are united.
  — Danielle Ohl, baltimoresun.com, 7 July 2017
• These are super lightweight and flexible kicks with a zero drop, designed to help improve natural running and walking form, and toe splay.
  — Locke Hughes, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2019
• Rather than a single cavern with a rectangular opening flap on the top, this hauler unzips around the sides and splays open into two halves, each with a mesh zippered cover.
  — Ariella Gintzler, Outside Online, 10 May 2018
• The fit accommodates wide feet and allows for forefoot splay, while wrapping and supporting comfortably and securely.
  — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 4 May 2020
• The toe-splay-accommodating fit provides a comfortable, connected and stable feel.
  — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 4 June 2021
• These continue to be a favorite for barefoot runners and hikers looking for maximum toe splay that even the wider toe box in traditional barefoot shoes doesn’t offer.
  — Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
• Even our runners with regular-width feet appreciated the extra space, once they got used to their toes having room for their natural positioning and splay.
  — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 19 Sep. 2024
• Bont makes a wider shoe than many others on the market, allowing greater toe splay and more comfort for wider midfoots, and this high-performing shoe comes in two width options to fit a wide range of foot shapes and sizes.
  — Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023
• The upper also provides a more generous fit than other Skechers, accommodating those looking for a wider forefoot and toe splay.
  — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 19 May 2021
• As expected from Altra, the toe box is wide enough for full splay and combines with the zero-drop geometry for a stable, natural, balanced platform.
  — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2022
• In the trilogy, there is also a landscape crop of three very similar-looking male models, two of which are wearing what look like chainlink skirts, while a third splays on the floor of a gray set, donning a tailored coat of the same colour.
  — Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, 16 Jan. 2020
• The forefoot is roomy (for natural toe splay) without feeling sloppy, and the 26-millimeter-thick foam from heel to toe is both soft and responsive, resulting in a notably enjoyable ride.
  — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 29 Aug. 2021
• From the looks of the video, multiple vents were erupting from the New Southeast Crater, producing a splay of lava fountains during this intense strombolian eruption.
  — Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2013