spans 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of span
as in measures
to find out the size, extent, or amount of tried to span the distance between the two trees by eye alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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spans

2 of 2

noun

plural of span
1
as in pairs

Related Words
2
as in spaces

Related 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 spans
Verb
The categories catching on right now The trend spans clothing, toys, photography and physical music formats. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 The space, which spans more than 5,000 square feet, showcases the seasonal collections including eveningwear, bags, fine jewelry and footwear. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Games that are not exclusive national broadcasts will be included with a Prime membership for fans within the team's television territory, which spans parts of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mississippi. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Our output now spans more than 30 films a year across theatrical and streaming — growth that reflects the trust our studio has built with the creative community and the extraordinary work of our team. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 The 105-minute film spans more than 2,350 shots and 200 characters. — Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 The owner’s suite spans the full width of the main deck, with the owner’s ensuite in the port hull. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026 This book spans the arc of one of the most consequential careers in American public life. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 The facility spans 83,000 square feet and will employ 120 workers. — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spans
  1. measures
  2. pairs
  3. years
  4. gauges
  5. couples
  6. stretches
  7. weighs
  8. teams
Verb
  • It’s considered the gold standard in assessments and is the only common yardstick that measures student learning across the country.
    — Lamar Alexander, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Overall, two-thirds of patients did better on a frailty score that measures grip strength, chair stands, and balancing.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of measures
Noun
  • On the other, evidence suggests this pair of habitual time-wasters were commonly found on the floor, running laughter through a Yamaha SPX90 effects processor for kicks and strumming the same note for 40-odd minutes.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Once the animals had learned to associate each of the six scents with a particular reward location, researchers started swapping the scent-location pairs.
    — Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pairs
Noun
  • Ten years ago, on Mother’s Day, Fiona Galvin reported her 17-year-old daughter missing.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Over the past 10 years, Quinn has seen an increase in challenging behavior and more emotions among her 6- and 7-year-olds, with a particular ramp-up since the pandemic.
    — Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Definition of years
Verb
  • Clarity gauges whether or not the diamond has of internal imperfections or external flaws, and carat weight, the most obvious of them all, provides insight into the actual metric weight of the diamond.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Another neat trick this TV has up its sleeve is an AI light sensor that gauges the room's ambient light and automatically adjusts the screen brightness to it.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of gauges
Noun
  • The mix of guests ranges from trendy couples lounging in dressing gowns on a spa break to outdoorsy types wearing messy boots and young families with grandparents in tow on the hunt for some truly fresh air.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • During the panel, the four artists not only demonstrated their unique and spontaneous personalities, but also bonded on being power couples, having children and the challenges of creating music together.
    — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of couples
Noun
  • Virginia did a good job controlling SMU for long stretches, but a few big plays negated all that.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Jones showed stretches of that growth last season, his first full campaign with the Panthers.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretches
Verb
  • The single-seat aircraft weighs about 253 pounds with batteries and includes a ballistic parachute and an automatic landing function.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • California weighs factors like time spent in the state and business ties when deciding who counts as a resident.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of weighs
Noun
  • Jullien Harneis, the UN’s senior Ebola coordinator, said the outbreak’s expanding reach required more teams, coordination and logistical support.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The company is using computer simulations and a new engineering approach that allows design, manufacturing and engineering teams to work simultaneously rather than completing their tasks one after another.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of teams

Browse Nearby Words

spanning
spans
spar
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Cite this Entry

“Spans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spans. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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