spots 1 of 2

plural of spot
1
as in specks
a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part in summer the white coat of the snow leopard is studded with brownish black spots

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
5
as in locations
the area or space occupied by or intended for something the cat grabbed my spot on the couch the minute I stood up

Synonyms & Similar Words

spots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spot

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 spots
Noun
The third-year veteran has experience playing all three offensive line spots. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026 Aesthetically, my dark spots faded, blemishes reduced, and my eye bags appeared less puffy the following morning. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 And just to make things interesting, two amateur anglers — Eric Giessing of Missouri and Kyle Carr of Texas — earned their spots through a sweepstakes and will compete alongside the pros. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Bake moussaka until bubbling vigorously and mornay sauce is browned in spots, 30–45 minutes. — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026 More than 450 spots concentrated on the Westside have been lost, forcing parents to seek out limited licensed spots. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Barrie also had one-episode guest spots on popular shows like Rawhide, The Fugitive, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Family Ties, Thirtysomething, Pushng Daisies, Army Wives, and Nurse Jackie. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026 The tournament winner will receive spots in the Masters and British Open. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 The Queen City punched well above its weight, with Sam Hart’s Counter- holding onto its Michelin Star, five newcomers earning spots on the guide and one local chef taking home a national honor. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Mom spots shipwreck hiding beneath lake after years of beach visits. — FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Along the route, another driver yells out their window to say hi to Hollywell, while Ayo spots two friends on bicycles and greets them with a cheerful grin and full-body wave. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026 Vik spots it when Christy asks him to help her reverse-image-search Bo’s face. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Under pressure, Ederson spots that John Stones has drifted into a pocket of space and slides the ball through, taking three players out of the game with a simple pass and encouraging his team-mate to move forward with purpose. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026 If someone spots the morality police approaching, English lessons are wiped from the whiteboard in seconds, and notebooks are replaced with needlework. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026 In other words, those sun spots from your beach days in your 20s may finally be ready to take a hint. — Sheryl George, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026 Anyone who spots Rio is urged to stay 100 yards away, and to report any sightings to their website or the WhaleAlert app. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Claude spots hidden repeats One Claude agent focused on an unusual reverse transcriptase family and began examining the raw DNA surrounding it. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spots
Noun
  • The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Some fans are staunch defenders of the polarizing pork sandwich, which consists of a boneless pork patty smothered in tangy barbecue sauce, topped with onions and pickles and served on a toasted roll.
    — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Most ingredients, including pickles and dressings, are made in-house.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • They’re engineered to be both soft and sturdy with open-cell foam that doesn’t scratch but does whisk away lipstick marks and dried-on Merlot stains.
    — Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Recent photos of the inside appear to show puddles and stains from water damage and char marks from fire.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The apron is built to take a beating—oils and rogue splashes barely register, practically rolling right off the surface.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke, however, plays wild splashes of melody on an electric piano in the empty spaces between Waits’s lines.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • By integrating the launcher into a standard shipping container, the solution can be transported more easily, moved between locations, and incorporated into existing logistics and transportation networks.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • While the grocer has several locations across Los Angeles, its Beverly Hills outpost is the biggest scene and a tourist attraction in its own right, drawing visitors who make a point of stopping in to see what the hype is about.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Prepare to be dazzled from Warsaw’s highest viewing terrace atop Varso Tower, which proudly dots the skyline, before eating your way through the innovative food halls that define the coolest neighborhoods.
    — Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2026
  • Japanese linens top the bed, and designer furniture dots the living space.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Andrew Taylor-Parr, the image director for Comme des Garçons (who actually lives in the Barbican), notices the appeal of raw materials and strong form against the modern backdrop of visual noise and commercial polish.
    — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Officials urged anyone who notices suspicious signs of infestation to report them immediately.
    — Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The easy-to-use machine simply sprays the area with cleaning solution, scrubs the carpet fibers, and extracts the dirty water and grime.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Officials said the pesticide is an ultra-low-volume treatment that sprays approximately two tablespoons per acre.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spots. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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