spread
0 antonyms and opposites of spread, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To open something out so it covers a wider area.
How to use spread
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English sprædan ("to spread, expand"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to strew or scatter.
Full origin of spread →Frequently asked questions
What does “spread” mean?
The word “spread” means to open something out so it covers a wider area. In plain terms, to stretch, scatter, or become more widely present — used for objects, information, disease, or (in finance) a price gap.
How do you pronounce “spread”?
“Spread” is pronounced sprehd (/spɹɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “spread” in a sentence?
Here is “spread” used in a sentence: “She spread the map across the table.”
What is another word for “spread”?
Words with a similar meaning to “spread” include disseminate, circulate, propagate, diffuse, put about and straddle.
What part of speech is “spread”?
Depending on how it is used, “spread” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “spread” come from?
The word “spread” comes from Old English. From Old English sprædan ("to spread, expand"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to strew or scatter.
Is “spread” a common word?
“Spread” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “spread” have?
“Spread” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to open something out so it covers a wider area.
What are the different meanings of spread?
Beyond opening something out, spread can mean to distribute widely, as in spread the news; to apply a soft layer, as in spread butter; or to extend over time or space. As a noun it can name a soft food, a range of things, or a large, generous meal.
What is the past tense of spread?
Spread is irregular, so its past tense and past participle are both also spread, never spreaded. You would say she spread the map yesterday, and it has spread quickly since then. The form stays the same in every tense, which makes it simple but easy to overlook.
What is an example of spread?
You might spread a blanket on the grass, opening it out to cover the ground. Other everyday examples include spreading jam across toast, a fire spreading through dry brush, or news spreading across a town. All share the core idea of extending outward to cover more space.
What is the opposite of spread?
Common opposites include gather, fold, and collect when you close something up, and contain or restrict when you limit how far it reaches. Because to spread is to widen or extend, its antonyms describe pulling things in, folding them together, or keeping them within a smaller area.