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 district spans Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego, as well as parts of Arlington, Bedford, Euless, Fort Worth and Hurst. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026 Tucked behind tall gates and hedges, the contemporary-style build, designed by Jae Omar, spans nearly 15,000 square feet. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026 The shop now spans three levels and has 5,900 square feet of retail space. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026 Such a quick and huge win is uncommon for 22nd District, which spans the southern San Joaquin Valley and is usually home to one of the country’s most competitive House races. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026 The basket spans consumer staples, real estate, health care, financials and utilities sectors. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026 That would be Art Deco, which spans architecture, interior design, artwork and even type fonts. — Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026 Authentic’s brand portfolio spans Dockers, Reebok, Champion, Guess, Lucky Brand, Aeropostale, Nautica and more. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026 This year, on Sunday, November 1, over 60,000 runners are expected to take part in the marathon, which follows a path that spans all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island and finishing in Central Park. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 28 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
  • In studies, withdrawal from kratom has appeared mild on a scale that measures clinical opioid withdrawal, with symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and restlessness.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Indeed, haemoglobin measures the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, while ferritin measures the iron stored in the body.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of measures
Noun
  • Nix tossed a pair of touchdown passes, using the same play-call each time — leaking a back or wide receiver into the end zone.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Stevens instead opted to attend a different church service with Rogers, where the pair hosted a press conference.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 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
  • Most of the helicopter was consumed by fire after the crash, so no meaningful data could be gleaned from the majority of the cockpit gauges, according to the report.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Clarity, in the meantime, gauges whether or not the diamond has internal imperfections or external flaws, and carat weight grants insight on the actual metric weight of the diamond.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of gauges
Noun
  • The busy bar is surrounded by couples sipping cocktails and jazz music plays gently in the background.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Within the couples’ apartments, Heggessey suggested Channel 4 could install CCTV, use individual safe words and panic buttons, and provide lockable ensuite bathrooms.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of couples
Noun
  • Will McDonald has three sacks but has gone quiet for stretches.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Dubai has built more than 557 kilometers of cycle tracks, with a goal of 1,000 kilometers by 2030, and the urban planning department is adding shaded walking routes to make exercise feasible for longer stretches of the year.
    — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of stretches
Verb
  • These tighter measurements may not seem like a lot, but the iPad mini now weighs the same as the iPhone Duo, Apple's folding iPhone.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The workflow weighs business impact, construction criticality, timing urgency, cost benefit, customer commitment and inter-project budget implications.
    — Jayashree Arunkumar, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of weighs
Noun
  • Will Garrett’s return free Donald from double teams and other schemes?
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Panthers and other 3-4 base teams employ a nickel package — or five defensive backs on the field at once — more often than any other personnel.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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