as in measured
to find out the size, extent, or amount of
tried to span the distance between the two trees by eye alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 spanned
Over the course of a conversation that spanned more than a million words and 300 hours, the bot encouraged Brooks to adopt grandiose beliefs, validated his delusions, and led him to believe the technological infrastructure that underpins the world was in imminent danger.
—
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
The items were worn by historical figures who spanned the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Stamberg's stories and segments over the decades spanned the human experience, from examining matters of state to illuminating pointillist details of artistic achievement.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Investors concur, based on a trio of team sales this year in Boston, Los Angeles and Portland that spanned the sport’s economic tiers and drove values up across the board.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Holsey’s announcement caps a career that has spanned more than 37 years.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Her career spanned three uniform post assignments and seven different departmental divisions, achieving every rank from trooper to inspector and served as a forensic artist and expert on missing persons and human trafficking before officially retiring in September 2025.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
For an artist whose career spanned decades, how could two pages from each year cover it?
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
The protest was a stark contrast from the city's typical anti-ICE charades, some of which have turned violent and have now spanned several months.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
The items were worn by historical figures who spanned the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Stamberg's stories and segments over the decades spanned the human experience, from examining matters of state to illuminating pointillist details of artistic achievement.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Investors concur, based on a trio of team sales this year in Boston, Los Angeles and Portland that spanned the sport’s economic tiers and drove values up across the board.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Holsey’s announcement caps a career that has spanned more than 37 years.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Her career spanned three uniform post assignments and seven different departmental divisions, achieving every rank from trooper to inspector and served as a forensic artist and expert on missing persons and human trafficking before officially retiring in September 2025.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
For an artist whose career spanned decades, how could two pages from each year cover it?
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
The protest was a stark contrast from the city's typical anti-ICE charades, some of which have turned violent and have now spanned several months.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spanned
Verb
-
Free transfers are the key currency in Fantasy Premier League, meaning any moves in the game have to be measured.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Gas prices, as measured by AAA, looked destined to break through the psychologically important $3-a-gallon level.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Having escaped disaster and gauged the full extent of American self-deterrence, Putin began putting pressure on Ukraine’s neighbors and suppliers.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Measurements and measurables can be gauged in this sport if there is a 4th-and-goal situation, a pass that just missed, a tackle that just missed.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spanned. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share