1
: the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand
also
: an English unit of length equal to nine inches (22.9 centimeters)
2
: an extent, stretch, reach, or spread between two limits: such as
a
: a limited space (as of time)
especially
: an individual's lifetime
b
: the spread or extent between abutments or supports (as of a bridge)
also
: a portion thus supported
c
: the maximum distance laterally from tip to tip of an airplane
spanned; spanning
1
a
: to measure by or as if by the hand with fingers and thumb extended
b
: measure
2
a
: to extend across
a career that spanned four decades
b
: to form an arch over
a small bridge spanned the pond
c
: to place or construct a span over
3
: to be capable of expressing any element of under given operations
a set of vectors that spans a vector space
: a pair of animals (such as mules) usually matched in appearance and action and driven together
Synonyms
Examples of span in a Sentence
Verb
His career as a singer spanned three decades.
Their empire once spanned several continents.
Her academic interests span a wide variety of topics.
A bridge spans the river.
Recent Examples on the Web
Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 May 2024
Some took the stand for just a few hours, others spanned days.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 5 May 2024
The event, showcasing hundreds of artists and patronized by hundreds of thousands of people, spans two main locations: the lush parkland of the Giardini, created by Napoleon, and the cluster of retired shipyards and armories known as the Arsenale.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
The three leads are the anchors in a very convoluted, very sweaty love triangle, which spans decades.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 2 May 2024
The property is situated on a lot spanning 5,400 square feet.
—Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
Spring turkey hunting season in Oklahoma spans from April 16 to May 16.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
The first leg of the tour will span across North America, exclusively America and Canada.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2024
Each of these projects is expected to span many months.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2024
Sunday’s storms brought up to nine inches of rain to some areas in a span of just six to eight hours, washing out roads and causing rivers to rise.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 6 May 2024
That massive script transformed into three movies that Lionsgate will release in a span of nine to 12 months.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 6 May 2024
Frank Turner hit the road hard this weekend, seeking to break the world record for most shows played in multiple cities in the span of 24 hours.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2024
More than 2,000 people have been arrested at protests nationwide in the span of two weeks, with some injured in the process.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 May 2024
The film takes place over the span of 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, during which all three characters had to evolve and age from their late teens into their 30s.
—Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 3 May 2024
So, in the span of eight days, the Current will be caught multiple times at a travel and rest disadvantage to their opponents.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024
The organizational assessment found the department needs an additional 500 officers to adequately cover the 27,000 square miles of the Navajo Nation, totaling 700 officers to cover the span of the Navajo Nation.
—Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
Verb
Hill's acting career spanned over 50 years both onscreen and on-stage.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 May 2024
Some took the stand for just a few hours, others spanned days.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 5 May 2024
The event, showcasing hundreds of artists and patronized by hundreds of thousands of people, spans two main locations: the lush parkland of the Giardini, created by Napoleon, and the cluster of retired shipyards and armories known as the Arsenale.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
The three leads are the anchors in a very convoluted, very sweaty love triangle, which spans decades.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 2 May 2024
The property is situated on a lot spanning 5,400 square feet.
—Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
Spring turkey hunting season in Oklahoma spans from April 16 to May 16.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
The first leg of the tour will span across North America, exclusively America and Canada.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2024
Each of these projects is expected to span many months.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
In the span of two full regular seasons and 25 playoff games, the two have been on the ice together with the game at five-on-five for just 377 minutes, or the equivalent of just over six full games.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 May 2024
Sunday’s storms brought up to nine inches of rain to some areas in a span of just six to eight hours, washing out roads and causing rivers to rise.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 6 May 2024
That massive script transformed into three movies that Lionsgate will release in a span of nine to 12 months.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 6 May 2024
Frank Turner hit the road hard this weekend, seeking to break the world record for most shows played in multiple cities in the span of 24 hours.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2024
More than 2,000 people have been arrested at protests nationwide in the span of two weeks, with some injured in the process.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 May 2024
The film takes place over the span of 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, during which all three characters had to evolve and age from their late teens into their 30s.
—Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 3 May 2024
So, in the span of eight days, the Current will be caught multiple times at a travel and rest disadvantage to their opponents.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024
The organizational assessment found the department needs an additional 500 officers to adequately cover the 27,000 square miles of the Navajo Nation, totaling 700 officers to cover the span of the Navajo Nation.
—Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'span.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near span
Cite this Entry
“Span.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/span. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
span
1 of 3 noun1
: the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand
also
: an English unit of length equal to 9 inches (about 22.9 centimeters)
2
a
: a limited portion of time
span of life
b
: the spread (as of an arch) from one support to another
c
: the portion supported to form a span
span
2 of 3 verb
spanned; spanning
1
a
: to measure by or as if by the hand with fingers and thumb extended
2
a
: to reach or extend across
a bridge spans the river
a career that spans four decades
b
: to place or construct a span over
span
3 of 3 noun
: a pair of animals (as mules) driven together
Etymology
Noun
Old English spann "distance measured by the outstretched hand"
Noun
from Dutch span "a pair of animals driven together," derived from earlier spannen "to hitch up"
Medical Definition
span
noun1
: an extent of distance or of time
especially
: life span
2
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