spread 1 of 3

1
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in to divide
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6

spread

2 of 3

noun

1
as in quilt
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed bought a brightly colored spread for summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
as in spectrum
the distance or extent between possible extremes the spread of grades was from 15 to 79 on that quiz

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

spread (out)

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area let's spread the puzzle out on the floor and see what we've got

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Hunger has spread in Gaza, with UN agencies warning of impending famine without a drastic scaling up of aid entering the territory and being distributed across it. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 31 May 2025 Symptoms often begins with tingling and weakness in the feet and legs that spreads to the upper body and arms, though some people notice the first symptoms in the arms or face. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
By the numbers: The startup currently partners with over 30 financial institutions in Latin America and earns money through transaction fees and FX spreads. Ryan Lawler, Axios, 28 May 2025 Shelves are stocked with intriguing ingredients, sauces and spreads, also available from the San Juan online store. Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for spread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spread
Noun
  • The subtle pleat pattern gives the ruffle a refined character that pairs exceptionally well with quilts and starchy white duvet covers.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
  • Keep scrolling for more of our favorite lightweight and cooling quilts and comforters from Amazon, starting at $30.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The girl vanished while her parents ate dinner a few hundred yards away and her 2-year-old twin siblings slept in the same room.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 June 2025
  • Many of the largest dahlias, sometimes called dinner plate dahlias, are in the late-blooming category.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • The two-story, 135,000-square-foot expansion, designed by Generator Studio, will double the size of the facility and is expected to bring up to 1.5 million people through its doors annually, according to team estimates.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • LinkedIn’s expansion allows companies to buy First Impression Ads: vertical video ads for single-day campaigns that can target users in specific businesses, and are guaranteed to be the first ad that those members see during the day.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • At the opposite spectrum of the sombre tone and palette of Ritual of the Ancestors and Rites of Passage are a pair of sensual canvases titled Adoration of the Earth which depict a naked woman languishing in a field of dancing sunflowers.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Despite the White House’s claims that the bill would be deficit neutral, budget experts across the ideological spectrum project the bill to add even more to the $36 trillion national debt.
    Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Flowers kept his distance the following summer and got a job at Charlestown Senior Living in Catonsville.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 29 May 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The banquet hall will be used in a two-room setup more frequently, according to Couch.
    Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • Attendees of the Thursday night banquet at Trump National Golf Club outside Washington, D.C., paid an average of $1 million to get in the room, spending close to $400 million in total.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The highest per capita death toll occurred in Yancey County, a rural expanse in the rugged Black Mountains of North Carolina devastated by flash flooding and landslides.
    Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 21 May 2025
  • Meanwhile the darker expanses of Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms) and the surrounding lunar maria (which is Latin for seas) will dominate the north west of the moon's tidally locked disk, according to NASA.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Within the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that reaches Earth, humans are only able to see a narrow range of wavelengths, called visible light.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2025
  • The former screen actor also had to learn over time how to use just her voice to convey a range of complex human emotions.
    Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spread. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on spread

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!