spreads 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of spread
1
2
3
4
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
3
4
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
The last time spreads were nearly this high, the underlying equities were 15% lower. — Sean Conlon,hugh Leask,lee Ying Shan,fred Imbert, CNBC, 18 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
  • The approach applies manufacturing practices to research and development, allowing engineers and machinists to modify components and processes quickly as designs evolve.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The event’s organizer argues the law applies to contests between people, not robots.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 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
  • The components connect to a custom wristwatch-type electronic unit that processes the signals, transmits them wirelessly to a computer and stores the measurements on a microSD card.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This handy gadget picks up your Bluetooth signal and transmits audio to up to two Bluetooth devices.
    — Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 15 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
  • There were also frequent nine-course dinners with visiting students, research assistants, work colleagues, and neighbors.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For Hunt, these dinners act as an unhurried shelter for creative incubation.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spreads. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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