spread
sprehd
Spread (verb) means to open something out so it covers a wider area. Example: “We spread a blanket on the grass and unpacked the picnic.”
verb
1
To open something out so it covers a wider area.
"We spread a blanket on the grass and unpacked the picnic."
"She spread the map across the table."
"He spread his arms wide to hug her."
2
To become more widely known, present, or transmitted.
"News of the school's closure spread quickly around the village."
"The rumour spread through the office within hours."
"The infection spread quickly in the crowded ward."
3
To coat something with a thin layer of a substance.
"She spread a thin layer of glue over the back of the paper."
"Spread the cream evenly over the cake with a flat knife."
"He spread butter thickly on his toast."
noun
1
A soft food meant to be smeared on bread, such as jam or butter.
"I prefer a low-fat spread on my sandwiches instead of butter."
"There is a jar of cheese spread in the fridge."
"She keeps a jar of chocolate spread in the cupboard."
2
A large, generously laid-out meal.
"Grandma laid out a wonderful spread for the whole family on Christmas Day."
"The hotel put on a lavish spread for the wedding guests."
"The buffet was an impressive spread of local dishes."
3
(finance) The gap between two prices, such as a buying and selling price.
"A narrow spread between buying and selling prices makes trading cheaper."
"The currency exchange kept a wide spread, so customers received less money."
"The bank widened its bid-ask spread during volatile trading."
How to use spread
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stretch, scatter, or become more widely present — used for objects, information, disease, or (in finance) a price gap.
Common mistake
In finance, "spread" refers to a price difference, not a physical thing — don’t confuse it with the food sense.
Common pairings
spread the word
spread butter
bid-ask spread
a lavish spread
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Word forms
- Plural
- spreads
- Third person singular
- spreads
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ a blanket on the grass and unpacked the picnic.
Etymology
From Old English sprædan ("to spread, expand"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to strew or scatter.
Synonyms
View more →
open out
unfold
extend
lay out
stretch out
distribute
scatter
paste
spreadhead
spreading
counterpane
gap
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for spread
See all rhymes for 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.
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