spill 1 of 2

verb

ˈspil How to pronounce spill (audio)
Definition of spillnext
as in to reveal
to make known (as information previously kept secret) the actor's butler spilled the secret to a tabloid for $40,000

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spill

2 of 2

noun

as in fall
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily she tripped over the toy and had a nasty spill on the stairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spill
Verb
In the late 1940s, the invention of the automatic shut-off gas nozzle enabled consumers to safely fill their own tanks without spilling gasoline or sparking a fire. — Jason Dressel, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 The family feud erupted earlier this year and spilled over to battle for control of the holding company. — Ian Sayson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
Pluribus has proven an awards juggernaut — wine spills be damned. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026 But there’s a special energy come evening time every third Thursday of the month, when local artists, jewelers, and crafters sell their wares at makeshift stands that spill across the sidewalks during the North Beaches Art Walk. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spill
  1. reveal
  2. fall
  3. disclose
  4. tumble
  5. discover
  6. stumble
  7. tell
  8. slip
Verb
  • In his post-match press conference after City beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Sunday, Maresca revealed that Omar Marmoush is in a similar position.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Supreme Court has recognized that phone location records can reveal far more than movement.
    — Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of reveal
Noun
  • The band will play in six cities during its fall tour, culminating in back-to-back concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor Swift will be adding another trophy to her shelf, as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that the superstar will be inducted into the hall this fall, becoming, at 36, the youngest writer ever to receive the honor.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Plano police did not disclose the woman's cause of death and said additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If an investigation later reveals that criminal activity was taking place before or during the naturalization process—but was not disclosed—the government may argue that the individual was never legally eligible to become a citizen.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of disclose
Noun
  • But animals don’t appear to be interested in all forms of action, such as the tumble of a boulder or the wind in a tunnel.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Where top loaders rely on the agitator to clean the items, front load washers are strategically built with side paddles that lift the clothes up and rotate them in the tumble.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers then discovered that the second population of neurons, called Ddah1+ neurons, responded to stress.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of discover
Noun
  • After the stumble, the team also added a slew of improvements that have made the overall game better.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Honeywell Aerospace shares tumbled 11% on Wednesday evening after the company reported weak quarterly results and cut its full-year outlook due to supply chain stumbles.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • The study of a patient’s urine was an extremely popular practice in the Middle Ages, even though doctors could tell precious little about what was ailing someone just by looking at a sample in a jar.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Backstage, Kenny Omega calls the Don Callis Family bullies and tells them to pick any three members to face him and The Young Bucks, who are standing beside Omega, next week.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of tell
Noun
  • The mayor said people visiting historic Bushnell Park don’t want to look down and see a message about slip and falls.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Prada’s take on the style includes an interior slip pocket, and Quince’s version has a removable matching leather zipper pouch that’s roomy enough to hold a phone.
    — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of slip

Phrases Containing spill

Browse Nearby Words

spiling
spill
spilled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spill. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on spill

Nglish: Translation of spill for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All