spot

1 of 3

noun

1
: a taint on character or reputation : fault
the only spot on the family name
2
a
: a small area visibly different (as in color, finish, or material) from the surrounding area
b(1)
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
(2)
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (such as measles) or decay
spots of rot
rust spots on a leaf
c
: a conventionalized design used on playing cards to distinguish the suits and indicate values
3
: an object having a specified number of spots or a specified numeral on its surface
4
: a small quantity or amount : bit
5
a
: a particular place, area, or part
b
: a small extent of space
6
plural usually spot : a small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast with a black spot behind the opercula
7
a
: a particular position (as in an organization or a hierarchy)
b
: a place or appearance on an entertainment program
8
9
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
10
: a brief announcement or advertisement broadcast between scheduled radio or television programs
11
: a brief segment or report on a broadcast especially of news

spot

2 of 3

verb

spotted; spotting

transitive verb

1
: to stain the character or reputation of : disgrace
2
: to mark in or with a spot : stain
The snow was spotted with blood.
His pants were spotted with mud.
3
: to locate or identify by a spot
4
a
: to single out : identify
especially : to note as a known criminal or a suspicious person
b
: detect, notice
spot a mistake
spotted a deer in the woods
c(1)
: to locate accurately
spot an enemy position
(2)
: to cause to strike accurately
spot the battery's fire
d
: to watch or assist (someone) during athletic competition or exercise (as for gymnastics or weight lifting) especially to prevent injury
She's the darling of the weight room wherever she works out, spotting guys twice her size.Rick Reilly
5
a
: to lie at intervals in or over : stud
small boats spotting the harbor
b
: to place at intervals or in a desired spot
spot field telephones
c
: to fix in or as if in the beam of a spotlight
d
: to schedule in a particular spot or at a particular time
spotted the main act at 9 p.m.
e
football : to put (the football) at the appropriate place on the field in preparation for the next play
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
6
: to remove a spot from
7
a
: to give a specified advantage to (an opponent) : to allow as a handicap (see handicap entry 1 sense 1b)
She spotted me five points and still beat me easily.
spot him two strokes a hole in golf
b
informal : to lend (someone) a usually small amount of money
Can you spot me five bucks?

intransitive verb

1
: to become stained or discolored in spots
Fungus caused the leaves to spot.
2
: to cause a spot
a detergent that always spots
3
: to act as a spotter
especially : to locate targets
4
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
spottable adjective

spot

3 of 3

adjective

1
a
: being, originating, or done on the spot or in or for a particular spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: available for immediate delivery after sale
spot commodities
c(1)
: paid out upon delivery
spot cash
(2)
: involving immediate cash payment
a spot transaction
d(1)
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
(2)
: originating in a local station for a national advertiser
e
: performing occasionally when needed
a spot starter
2
: made at random or restricted to a few places or instances
a spot check
also : selected at random or as a sample
Phrases
on the spot
1
: at once : immediately
2
: at the place of action
3
a
: in a responsible or accountable position
b
: in a difficult or trying situation

Examples of spot in a Sentence

Noun The wood still has some rough spots. The chair's original paint is still visible in spots. He fell through a weak spot in the ice. The tablecloth had a couple of spots. There were mud spots on the back of his pants. rust spots on the metal I noticed some red spots on my arms. spots of rot on the leaf a teenager with spots on his face This looks like a good spot for a picnic. Verb She spotted a deer in the woods. The band's lead singer was recently spotted with a well-known actress. They spotted us five points, and we still lost. I'm a little short of cash. Can you spot me five bucks? The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line. Adjective the difference between futures and spot commodities the spot price of wheat
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Food Coffee, tea, wine, sake and mezcal: Our critic’s favorite spots to drink in L.A. Dec. 5, 2023 A friend introduces me to the bar on the walk back to our cars after lunch in Cambodia Town. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Now the Louisville spot is one of the last remaining places to find the faux red street car serving Olliefries, which are seasoned with a signature spice also on the Ollieburgers. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 2024 The confusion likely played a part in some people, including Vivica A. Fox, who were still searching for their spot mere moments before the show. Anaja I. Smith, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2024 Nevada maintained its spot as the No. 1 state for marriages with 25.9 per 1,000 people. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 Murals over the years have made the spot even more iconic, one of the most photographed spots along the border. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 Most spots easily hit the mid-60s under mainly sunny skies, with some bumping into the upper 60s. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Pictures on the walls of the restaurants reveal the famous people who have visited the iconic spot including Dalai Lama, Congressman John Lewis, James Brown, Beyonce, Senator Hillary Clinton, Alan Jackson and President Jimmy Carter. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Already with needs to fill at cornerback and safety and with multiple spots open on their offensive and defensive lines, the Dolphins suddenly have another need – starting inside linebacker – amid the release of Jerome Baker. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
On Saturday, Prince William and Kate were spotted and photographed at a farm shop near their home, easing questions over her health. Rob Picheta, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 On Saturday, Catherine was spotted in public for the first time since December, taking a casual shopping trip about a mile from her Adelaide Cottage home, the Sun reported. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The following week, during the Emmy Awards, Pascal was spotted wearing an arm sling. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 There is often a feminine edge spotted in her outfits; brooches, intricate makeup, and sky-high pumps. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024 Authorities asked anyone who spots the suspect or suspects, or has information on the shooting to contact police at 202-727-9099. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024 The new colors will be spotted throughout the full collection, which also includes the new 20 oz. Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 The model was spotted shopping in the Cotswolds in a lowkey look that also held a piece of fashion history. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2024 Leading lady Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (a Best Supporting Actress nominee for 2022’s King Richard) was spotted handing out postcards about Origin in front of a Los Angeles movie theater. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Over $6 billion has entered the cryptocurrency market since trading started for spot Bitcoin ETFs. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 Bitcoin’s blistering rally produced record inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs — and cemented the investor favorites in this new asset class. Elijah Nicholson-Messmer, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024 BlackRock filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday for a spot bitcoin ETF, which would hold the cryptocurrency as the underlying asset and track its price. Jack Pitcher, WSJ, 15 June 2023 Unlike regular bitcoin ETFs, in which bitcoin futures contracts are the underlying asset, bitcoins are the underlying asset of a spot bitcoin ETF. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 The inflows underscore the growing — and steady — appetite for spot Bitcoin ETFs. Isabelle Lee, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 Investor focus has squarely been on whether the U.S. securities regulator will soon approve a spot bitcoin ETF, which would throw open the market to millions more investors and draw billions in investments. Reuters, NBC News, 2 Jan. 2024 Are there reasons for an investor to allocate into futures ETFs instead of spot bitcoin funds? Javier Paz, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 One layer deeper, though, another subset of companies—intermediaries that provide the plumbing necessary for a spot bitcoin ETF to function—stand to earn big. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch spotte stain, speck, Old Norse spotti small piece

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b(2)

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of spot was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near spot

Cite this Entry

“Spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spot. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spot

1 of 3 noun
1
: something bad that others know about one : fault
2
a
: a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
b
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
c
: a small diseased or decayed area on the body surface of a plant or animal
spots of rot on a leaf
spots of chicken pox
3
a
: a small quantity or amount
b
: a particular place
a good spot for a picnic
a sore spot
4
: a particular position (as in an organization or on a program)
5
6
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
put someone in a spot
7
: a short broadcast announcement or advertisement

spot

2 of 3 verb
spotted; spotting
1
: to mark or become marked with or as if with spots
2
: to single out : identify
spot a friend in a crowd

spot

3 of 3 adjective
1
a
: done on the spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: paid upon delivery
spot cash
c
: involving immediate cash payment
the spot market for oil
d
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
2
: made from time to time or in a few places or instances
a spot check

Medical Definition

spot

1 of 2 noun
: a circumscribed mark or area: as
a
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (as measles)
b
: a circumscribed abnormality in an organ seen by means of X-rays or an instrument
X-rays revealed a spot on the lung

spot

2 of 2 intransitive verb
spotted; spotting
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus

More from Merriam-Webster on spot

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