spreads 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of spread
1
2
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5
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

6

spreads

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
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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

5

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
Any lingering rain chances will diminish as the front moves south and drier air spreads across the region. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 There is still a much larger question about what happens if driverless freight eventually spreads across the country. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Pneumonic plague spreads from person to person, causing a severe form of pneumonia, but recovery rates are high if it is detected and treated in time. — ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026 One stitch slip-up can cause a defect that spreads across the entire fabric. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026 And when the healthcare system is flawed to its core and disinformation about alternative treatments spreads rapidly online? — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026 Omnivore’s reissue of the first of these, for its 30th anniversary, spreads the original album across three sides with a new remix from Falkner himself, then adds four bonus tracks (a studio outtake song and three four-track demos) for Side 4. — Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 Anna Frizzell and Seth Dolinsky run Rare Herb Farm & Provisions, growing culinary herbs and turning them into dips and spreads such as lovage tahini and basil chive pesto. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026 According to Data Center Watch, at least 75 data center projects worth roughly $130 billion have already been blocked or delayed this year as the backlash spreads. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
Credit spreads are the difference in yield between the bonds and Treasurys of similar maturities. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Related Stories With 2,000 souls on board, the stakes are high and suspicion spreads, as the mission turned murder investigation slowly transforms into a global security crisis. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Editors sampled the spreads side by side, scoring them on taste, texture, and overall experience using a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2026 These systems can flag likely compromise or unsafe activity and block or alert before damage spreads. — Shashwat Sehgal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spreads
Verb
  • For its fifth edition, PhMuseum Days 2026 disseminates a programme of exhibitions, screenings, talks, workshops and independent publishing across the city of Bologna, under the artistic direction of Giuseppe Oliverio.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026
  • But the way social media disseminates words and images means that young people often share the same cultural icons and influences in ways unimaginable 50 years ago.
    — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • Haynie may have been responding to reports specific to Syracuse, but his response applies to all colleges.
    — Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Accountability applies to everyone, including those who wear our badge.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Russell tends to stay in the kitchen while Yvette circulates through the room.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The bacterium that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, still circulates among wildlife in Siberia and neighboring regions.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • This handy gadget picks up your Bluetooth signal and transmits audio to up to two Bluetooth devices.
    — Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The sender entangles its light field with the hologram’s light field and transmits the resulting signal.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Trever parts his hair to the right while his brother styles his combover to the left.
    — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Later, Hamilton parts the sea on his kick scooter, speedily escaping from the hectic press area.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • If Skydance increases spending on content, that could push its competitors to also invest more, Laurent Yoon, senior analyst at the research and brokerage firm Bernstein, told me.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Though this increases the X-Y dimensions, Apple worked closely with the system team to ensure the phones' internals could support this slightly larger package.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Its patchwork patterns are reminiscent of antique quilts with plenty of Southern charm, and they’re printed and stitched in sections along the length of the quilt.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Better Homes & Gardens Stripe Chambray Quilt Cotton quilts typically have three layers; the two thin outer layers can wick away moisture and provide a cooling effect, which is why this chambray quilt is the perfect summer layer for your bed.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • The stoneware dishes, with their childlike design, candy-colored glazes, and divided compartments, might jog formative memories of Montessori sorting trays or vintage TV dinners.
    — Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
  • January is the fine-dining restaurant, and the resort offers a number of additional dining experiences, including The Rambling and Tiffin dinners.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreads. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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