spread 1 of 2

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as in to apply
to put a layer of on a surface we spread the fertilizer over the lawn evenly until it was fully covered

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3
as in to circulate
to become known once news of the war's end had spread, spontaneous celebrations broke out everywhere

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as in to part
to go or move in different directions from a central point the walls of the old barn spread under the weight of the snow on the roof

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spread

2 of 2

noun

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as in quilt
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed bought a brightly colored spread for summer

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as in spectrum
the distance or extent between possible extremes the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz

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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 spread
Verb
The 1950s saw the Volkswagen Beetle spread globally, especially swarming roads in the United States during the 1960s. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025 Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
On the south flank, resources will hold the fire north of the Kings River to prevent spread into additional drainages and communities. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Health Care is bouncing from near all-time lows though remains under pressure due to worries about regulatory change, while Consumer Staple is still languishing with a huge negative spread. Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spread
Verb
  • All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.
    Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
  • To remember how these three women—and other journalists like them—got down to the business of reporting on what was happening, disseminating information to the masses and becoming a part of history, though none of them knew it at the time.
    Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With this certification program, employees can take short learning breaks and access ready-to-apply AI content on demand, instantly increasing their AI acumen.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The other end of the spectrum are breaks that happen when a single application of force is applied to the bone.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 47th took place the same afternoon, one state over in Colorado, though no footage has circulated.
    Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a bullet strike Kirk in the neck while speaking before a crowd, while others show people rushing out of a courtyard.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Text transmitted to the Cat via the serial port was inserted into the document as if it had been typed in at the console.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In the case of the microwave oven, that microwave radiation instead gets reflected off of the walls, which is why that energy is so efficiently transmitted into your food instead.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rain drizzled down most of the day Friday and into the early evening, but before sunset, as Kansas City shredder Samantha Fish was unleashing on guitar, the clouds parted to make way for a vibrant, double rainbow that arched over the entire box canyon.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Her hair was parted down the middle in loose waves.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Start with once daily, and if your skin can handle it, gradually increase to two or three times per week.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • When a La Niña phase occurs, less wind shear occurs in the regions of the Atlantic basin where tropical weather develops, increasing the potential for more storms, AccuWeather said.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Despite its plush texture, the quilt weighs only around 5 pounds, providing a cloudlike feel during warm nights.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The quilt is from OZ Art NWA’s collection.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The couple still live in separate houses but eat dinner together most nights.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Celebrating the start of New York Fashion Week, both actresses arrived at the Central Park Boathouse for the Veuve Clicquot dinner hosted by Jacquemus designer Simon Porte with the same copper hair coloring.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spread. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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