Phrase guide

spread out

adj · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Far apart, not close to each other, extended over an expanse of space or time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spaced out, thin, diffuse, dispersed, incompact, loose, noncompact, scattered, sparse, spread out, uncompact

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Covering a wide area of space or long period of time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: widespread

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Become further apart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • The police spread out to search a wider area.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To place items further apart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • Spread the cards out and then turn two of them over at random.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the houses were strung out in a long row

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: string out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arrange, set up

6

verb

Meaning 6

spread out or open from a closed or folded state

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • open the map
  • spread your arms

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unfold, spread, open

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: undo

Narrower terms: divaricate, exfoliate, grass, butterfly, uncross, splay

7

verb

Meaning 7

move away from each other;

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The crowds dispersed
  • The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: disperse, dissipate, scatter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: separate, part, split

Narrower terms: aerosolize, aerosolise, break, volley

8

verb

Meaning 8

turn outward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • These birds can splay out their toes
  • ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: turn out, splay, rotate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: turn

9

verb

Meaning 9

move outward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The soldiers fanned out

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: diffuse, spread, fan out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spread, distribute

Narrower terms: percolate, creep, run, bleed, mantle

10

verb

Meaning 10

extend in one or more directions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The dough expands

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expand

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: grow

Narrower terms: dispread, bush out

11

verb

Meaning 11

strew or distribute over an area

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He spread fertilizer over the lawn
  • scatter cards across the table

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spread, scatter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: circulate, pass around, pass on, distribute

Narrower terms: manure, muck, birdlime, lime, circumfuse, distribute

History

Etymology

Analytic form of earlier outspread.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Ahtna: bedzeʼ — far apart
  • Arabic: مُنْتَشِر (muntašir) — far apart
  • Arabic: مُتَفَرِّق (mutafarriq) — far apart
  • Catalan: dispers — far apart
  • Māori: pāpua — far apart
  • Māori: tīrara — far apart
  • Māori: toiroa — far apart
  • Russian: расправленный (raspravlennyj) — far apart
  • Ottoman Turkish: منتشر (münteşir) — far apart
  • Ottoman Turkish: بسیط (basît) — far apart
  • Arabic: تَفَرَّقَ (tafarraqa) — to become further apart
  • Finnish: levitä — to become further apart
  • Finnish: levittäytyä — to become further apart
  • Portuguese: espalhar-se — to become further apart
  • Arabic: فَرَّقَ (farraqa) — to place items further apart
  • Finnish: levittää — to place items further apart
  • Central Kurdish: راخستن (raxistin) — to place items further apart
  • Central Kurdish: بڵاوکردن (bllawkirdin) — to place items further apart
  • Māori: tūrara — to place items further apart
  • Māori: tūhāngai — to place items further apart
  • Māori: whakahora — to place items further apart
  • Portuguese: espalhar — to place items further apart
  • ǃXóõ: ǃkxʻáa — to place items further apart
  • Ancient Greek: πετάννυμι (petánnumi) — open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded
  • Māori: takapau — open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded
  • Ottoman Turkish: صالمق (salmak) — open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded