spread out
phrasal verb
spread out; spreading out; spreads out
1
: to open, arrange, or place (something) over a large area
He spread out the map on the table.
He spread the cards out on the table.
The cards were spread out across the table.
2
: to be open, arranged, or extended over a large area
The city is spread out over a wide area.
3
: to move (parts of the body) outward or away from each other
Spread your arms out.
There's no room on the couch to spread yourself out.
4
: to divide up (something) over a period of time or among members of a group
They spread the work out among the committee members.
The course is spread out over two semesters.
5
: to move apart from the other members of a group especially to search an area
The police spread out to search the area faster.
Examples of spread out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Companies want to spread out the financial risks of insuring a home that could be hit by a wildfire or hurricane across their pool of customers.
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Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2025
Lodging options include guest rooms that can accommodate up to six people and vacation rental homes for more space to spread out, and each stay includes a meal plan in the resort’s dining room.
—Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
For those unable to make it to Washington, the Giant Panda Cam, a feed of 40 cameras spread out across the animals’ habitat, will broadcast live between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
The top cities for homebuyers are fairly spread out across the U.S., although the South led the way with four of the ten housing hot spots, followed by the Midwest with three.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spread out 
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Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2025
Lodging options include guest rooms that can accommodate up to six people and vacation rental homes for more space to spread out, and each stay includes a meal plan in the resort’s dining room.
—Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
For those unable to make it to Washington, the Giant Panda Cam, a feed of 40 cameras spread out across the animals’ habitat, will broadcast live between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
The top cities for homebuyers are fairly spread out across the U.S., although the South led the way with four of the ten housing hot spots, followed by the Midwest with three.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spread out
Dictionary Entries Near spread out
Cite this Entry
“Spread out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spread%20out. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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