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spate

20 synonyms and 0 antonyms for spate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A sudden rush or outpouring of something, especially a large number of events happening close together.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

wad

How to use spate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a spate of in spate a recent spate

Etymology

From Middle English and Scots spate, "a flood," likely related to "spatter" and ultimately to the idea of water spitting or splashing forth.

Full origin of spate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “spate” mean?

The word “spate” means a sudden rush or outpouring of something, especially a large number of events happening close together. In plain terms, a sudden burst of many things happening at once, or a river swelling with floodwater.

How do you pronounce “spate”?

“Spate” is pronounced spayt (/speɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “spate” in a sentence?

Here is “spate” used in a sentence: “The city saw a spate of burglaries last winter.”

What part of speech is “spate”?

“Spate” is a noun.

Where does the word “spate” come from?

The word “spate” comes from Middle English. From Middle English and Scots spate, "a flood," likely related to "spatter" and ultimately to the idea of water spitting or splashing forth.

How many meanings does “spate” have?

“Spate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden rush or outpouring of something, especially a large number of events happening close together.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.