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
But thanks to its size and location – spread out over 1,700 miles across the Pacific – Hawaii was once again spared a direct landfall.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Heupel spreads out his receivers in an attempt to spread out the defense, then gashes them with the run.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Unlike spring, which sees new listings spread out across February, March, and April, the fall season sees a flash flood of listing activity right after Labor Day as sellers hit the market.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Place the hosta in the hole with roots spread out and the base about 1 inch below soil level.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Heupel spreads out his receivers in an attempt to spread out the defense, then gashes them with the run.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Unlike spring, which sees new listings spread out across February, March, and April, the fall season sees a flash flood of listing activity right after Labor Day as sellers hit the market.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Place the hosta in the hole with roots spread out and the base about 1 inch below soil level.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spread out
Cite this Entry
“Spread out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spread%20out. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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