How do you use the word "spread" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "spread" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "spread": A small forest fire can easily spread and quickly become a great conflagration. Fanned by a strong wind, the fire spread in an instant.

Spread Meaning

/spɹɛd/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo stretch out, open out (a material etc.) so that it more fully covers a given area of space.

verbTo extend (individual rays, limbs etc.); to stretch out in varying or opposing directions. simple past and past participle of spread

Sentence Examples

A small forest fire can easily spread and quickly become a great conflagration.

Fanned by a strong wind, the fire spread in an instant.

The news had spread and was causing great excitement.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

gap ranch prepared

Antonyms:

gather unprepared

CEFR Practice Quiz

The exciting news of the victory quickly ____ across the small town in just a few hours.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The students ____ the large map out on the floor to plan their route for the upcoming hike.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English spreden, from Old English sprǣdan (“to spread, expand”), from Proto-Germanic *spraidijaną (“to spread”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)per- (“to strew, sow, sprinkle”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian spreede (“to spread”), West Frisian spriede (“to spread”), North Frisian spriedjen (“to spread”), Dutch spreiden (“to spread”), Low German spreden (“to spread”), German spreiten (“to spread, spread out”), Danish sprede (“to spread”), Norwegian spre, spreie (“to spread, disseminate”), Swedish sprida (“to spread”), Latin spernō, spargō, Ancient Greek σπείρω (speírō), Persian سپردن (sepordan, “to deposit”), English spurn.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine.[…]One thing that is true, though, is that murder rates have fallen over the centuries, as policing has spread and the routine carrying of weapons has diminished. Modern society may not have done anything about war. But peace is a lot more peaceful." — 2013 July 20, “Old soldiers?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:

"As the Erzurum affair indicated, the janissaries in the provinces and in the capital city were in close touch, and thus the movements were quick to spread to Istanbul." — 2018, Pál Fodor, The Business of State. Ottoman Finance Administration and Ruling Elites in Transition (1580s–1615) (Studien zur Sprache, Geschichte und Kultur der Turkvölker; 28), Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag × De Gruyter, published 2020, →DOI, →ISBN, page 50:

"I placed my hands on his cheeks, and this time, I kissed him. “Don't worry, I'm not going to let anything spoil our day. It's just you and me.” A sad smile spread across his face, and I could tell he wanted to believe me, but didn't." — 2018 June 25, L.P. Dover, Going for the Hole, Books by L.P. Dover, LLC:

"And Enid brought sweet cakes to make them cheer, / And in her veil enfolded, manchet bread. / And then, because their hall must also serve / For kitchen, boil'd the flesh, and spread the board, / And stood behind, and waited on the three." — 1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Enid”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 21:

"This often sounds like the rap of a demented DJ: the way she moves has got to be good news, can't get loose till I feel the juice— suck and spread, bitch, yeah bounce for me baby." — 1984, Martin Amis, Money:

Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words