spreads 1 of 2

Definition of spreadsnext
present tense third-person singular of spread
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as in parts
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

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spreads

2 of 2

noun

plural of spread
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as in quilts
a decorative cloth used as a top covering for a bed bought a brightly colored spread for summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 spreads
Verb
The group of six certainly has a lot to do, and the new compensation program spreads the accountability around. Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026 Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly. Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026 There are a few variations, but most people with manageable balances can qualify for a streamlined plan that spreads payments out up to 72 months. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026 Sassetti studies how different strains of the bacteria behave differently in human populations with diverse immune responses to infection to better understand how the bug evolves and spreads. Megan Molteni, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026 Kindness spreads through social networks. Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026 But the truth behind the footage turned out to be far simpler — and the gap between fact and fiction offers a striking example of how misinformation spreads in the age of AI. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026 Tau later spreads to the rest of the brain. Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026 And every six weeks, my friend visits a professional who snaps on a pair of plastic gloves, mixes up a strong chemical concoction personalized especially for her, and spreads it all over her scalp. Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
As suspicion spreads, the series follows the fractures inside a family built on lineage, property and control. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026 Liquidity can also be slightly more complex compared to digital gold assets, as selling physical gold often requires working with a dealer and accepting market spreads. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 This list focuses strictly on traditional buffets, the kind with full spreads of prepared dishes and complete meals laid out for the taking. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026 As the heat dome spreads, over 70 million people could be impacted and put a strain on water resources, reported AccuWeather. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026 The conflict is already deeply unpopular with no clear endgame, as oil prices rise and fighting spreads throughout the Middle East. ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026 January also marked the lowest transaction activity by sale count since April 2024, signaling that while large institutional deals are getting done, the middle-market volume is getting hit by tighter credit standards and bid-ask spreads. Diana Olick, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026 If this spreads, fans will likely test different decades and genres to find what creates the most disorienting effect at the free-throw line. Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026 As fighting spreads across the Middle East, some Americans are choosing to stay in Lebanon despite an onslaught of Israeli strikes. Stella Kim, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreads
Verb
  • The virus disseminates from a person’s vomit and stool, spraying into the air or landing on nearby surfaces.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
  • The spores can also be present in soil, which, if disturbed, disseminates the spores into the air.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • This also applies to bedding—trading a heavy winter-time duvet for one with a lighter material like a linen or cotton percale can be a nice refresh.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The iconic Redbird — a name that applies to a paint scheme that’s adorned multiple classes of subway cars — began as an anti-graffiti effort in 1984.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The hyperscale data centers currently proposed in Wisconsin plan to use closed-loop systems, a kind of cooling system where water circulates though the system over and over.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 27 Mar. 2026
  • That way, even if your data circulates, criminals have a harder time breaking in.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • There’s no denying that Caurón leans into the sentimental here and elsewhere, yet there’s a strong gust of catharsis that García Treviño transmits as Liborio’s bloodied body refuses to surrender.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Instead of blocking signals, an attacker transmits fake satellite signals designed to mimic the real ones.
    Anna Raymaker, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Later, Hamilton parts the sea on his kick scooter, speedily escaping from the hectic press area.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The translunar injection involves firing Orion's main engine, which increases the spacecraft's velocity to send it out of Earth orbit and toward the moon.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • With warmer weather heralding spring, the amount of outdoor activities significantly increases.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This, too, began as a pop-up, with Baik hosting dinners inside his parents’ Koreatown restaurant, Kobawoo House.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
  • High schoolers regularly volunteer to unload trucks for the local senior center and help set up dinners at the Knights of Columbus.
    CBS News, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The world’s continents are fringed by vast expanses of sand and mud.
    David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Driving east on Route 80 toward the Meta site in Holly Ridge, an unincorporated rural community about 15 minutes east of Rayville—the landscape is defined by flat expanses of soybean and cotton fields, punctuated by grain silos, grazing cows, and the occasional tractor.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreads. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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