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
This wider story spans five centuries from the first enslavement of the Caribbean Lucayan and Taíno in 1492 to the Indian Child Welfare Act in 1978, which slowly halted the stealing of tens of thousands of Native children through adoptions. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026 Picturesque Caribbean-blue water — dyed that way with food-grade pigment as an aesthetic choice and an algae growth inhibitor — spans a quarter-mile of Valensin’s property. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026 The company says its presence spans the UAE, Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Romania, while Australia is identified as a market for strategic investment. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Instead, Consing wants to keep the sprawling Ayala group together–even if that does mean demanding more from the conglomerate’s portfolio, which spans banking, real estate, telecoms, energy, and more. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026 The slate spans movies, television, documentaries, educational content and immersive storytelling, anchored by long-term ownership of IP, international co-productions and monetizing that IP across formats. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 Cooper is an experienced chair and adviser whose career spans business, government and culture. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026 The global residency spans 50 shows across seven cities including London, São Paulo, Brazil, and Mexico City. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026 The trail spans a variety of cuisines, from Cuban to Vietnamese. — Eva Flowe, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spans
  1. measures
  2. pairs
  3. years
  4. gauges
  5. couples
  6. stretches
  7. weighs
  8. teams
Verb
  • Time blinks by Kathy Vigiano measures time by how much her youngest son, John, has grown since her husband, NYPD Detective Joseph Vigiano, was killed in the 9/11 terror attacks.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The figures differ from Netflix’s data, which measures views rather than viewers.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of measures
Noun
  • But Brown added a pair of experienced backups in Kennesaw State transfer and C-USA champion Amari Odom and former five-star prospect Malachi Nelson, who all played on Saturday.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The minimalist shape pairs well with jeans, loungewear, and even dresses.
    — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 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
  • 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
  • San Diego earned a 78 out of 100 Redfin Compete Score, which gauges how competitive a market is.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of gauges
Noun
  • Married couples, meanwhile, fell to 47% of households from 66% 50 years earlier.
    — Peter McGraw, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
  • In summer, guests appeared to be genteel, sophisticated middle-aged couples in Patagonia vests who had come for a long weekend of hiking, fishing, and horseback riding—or young families on a short vacation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of couples
Noun
  • Chelsea spent long stretches of the first half in survival mode as Arsenal roared onto the front foot after that shock opener, conjuring furious flurries of pressure from open play and set pieces.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • But even for people who are used to heat, long stretches of it can be particularly dangerous.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of stretches
Verb
  • The decision lands as the Supreme Court weighs the same case and states from Alabama to Wisconsin rush out ballots, raising stakes in the nationwide fight over mail voting.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The weight The Duo weighs 254 grams, about as much as a large apple, which is either a coincidence or somebody in Cupertino is giving us a little wink.
    — Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of weighs
Noun
  • The reason most teams stop there is not indifference as much as compromise.
    — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The Wall Street Journal and the Athletic reported Walter used billions of dollars of those insurance premiums to buy sports teams.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 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 12 Sep. 2026.

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