Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
📢 To share widely 🧈 To cover 📈 An increase 💲 A difference 🍽️ A big meal 📖 Two pages 🥪 A soft topping 🏞️ A large property 💻 To expand items 🛏️ A bed cover 🤗 Fully open
to spread

to spread

750 1.6
To become known by many people
  • verb
  • /sprɛd/
translation icon : difundirse
  • And that disease is beginning to spread all through the Americas.
  • spread disease
  • spread the message
  • spread the word

I am just happy to spread the message, right?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • And to my congregation, please spread the word.

    Ordinary Angels (2024)

  • How exactly did it spread so widely and quickly?

  • I am just happy to spread the message, right?

    Laura Kampf

  • That would spread that message far and wide.

    Fall (2022)

  • Good, because I want to spread joy to the world.

  • This actually helps people spread good messages.

  • Let's spread the challenge around, OK?

    #No_Filter (2022)

  • So widely did the news spread that the government relented and reopened access after four days.

    Academic text (2011)

  • As the HIV-1 epidemic continues to spread worldwide, the need for an effective vaccine remains urgent.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The news of the actor's scandal began to spread quickly across social media.

Synonyms

to disperse
vsto spread
104 4.4

To cause people and things, like a crowd or fog, to spread over a wide area

means becoming known or distributed rather than being physically scattered or broken up
to circulate
vsto spread
103 3.9

To spread information or documents among people

describes becoming known or widely available beyond just passing between people
to go around
vsto spread
85 2.3

Spread among many people, as with a story or rumor

is the general idea of becoming known or distributed, not just casual gossip
to go viral
vsto spread
  • Texting
61 3.8

To spread very quickly online and reach many people

covers becoming known or distributed more generally, not only online or fast
to get around
vsto spread
56 2.8

Information becomes known to many people

applies to many things becoming known or distributed widely
to trend
vsto spread
  • Texting
53 4.2

To become popular online for a short time

can mean becoming known generally rather than only briefly online
to disseminate
vsto spread
48 6.8

To spread information or ideas widely so many people know them

can mean simply becoming known among many without active sending
to diffuse
vsto spread
40 5.5

To spread out and reach many people or places

applies to becoming known or common as well as physical distribution
to propagate
vsto spread
23 5.9

Spread ideas, news, or feelings to many people

covers becoming known or distributed beyond only ideas or feelings
to become popular
vsto spread
22 2.4

Many people start to like or use something

means simply to become known or present among many without approval
to spread like wildfire
vsto spread
  • Informal
11 3.0

To become known by many people very quickly

refers to becoming known or distributed without implying extreme speed
to percolate
vsto spread
8 6.1

Spread slowly through a group until many people know or feel it

is broader, covering becoming known widely without the slow gradual process
to diffusing
vsto spread
1 3.9

Spreading slowly from one place to another, like light or a smell

means becoming known or distributed but not necessarily slowly

Antonyms

to isolate
256 4.2

To keep someone or something apart from others

to confine
215 4.2

Keep someone or something within limits, for example in a small space

Idioms

to spread like wildfire
  • Informal
11 3.0

To become known by many people very quickly

to spread your wings
  • Informal
1 4.2

To start living on your own and try new things

to spread like stink on shit
  • Offensive
9.9

To spread bad news or rumors very quickly and be hard to stop

Phrasal Verbs

to spread out
89 2.8

To move apart and cover a wider area

to spread the word
68 3.1

Tell many people about something so they know

to spread out
24 3.1

To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area

to spread over
17 3.6

Form a layer across a surface, like fog or icing

to spread oneself thin
  • Informal
6 7.0

To try to do too many things at the same time so you cannot do any well

to spread out
4 3.2

To turn a body part outward from the middle

to spread-eagle
1 7.7

To place your arms and legs wide apart when standing or lying

to spread-eagle
  • Specialized
8.2

To glide on ice with legs turned out and arms wide

to spread-eagle
  • Informal
8.3

To beat an opponent by a very large amount

to spread-eagle
7.6

To stretch across a large area

Compounds

cheese spread
1 1.0

A soft food made from cheese mixed with butter, cream, or spices to spread on bread

rapid spread
1 3.7

A fast increase that affects many people or places

spread-out
1 3.5

Arranged so they cover a wide area like papers fanned on a table

center spread
  • Jargon
1 3.9

Two pages in the middle of a magazine or newspaper showing a large photo

spread-eagle
1 7.2

With arms and legs stretched wide apart when lying down or in the air

middle-age spread
6.0

A gain of fat around the waist that happens in middle age

picnic spread
2.1

A selection of food like sandwiches and fruit laid out to eat outdoors

spread eagle
  • Jargon
8.3

A figure skating move with skates heel to heel and legs turned outward

spread eagle
  • US
7.5

An image of an eagle with wings and legs spread used on the United States seal

spread head
  • Jargon
9.5

A heading that goes across two facing pages in a book or magazine

spread-eagle jump
  • Specialized
7.5

A jump with arms and legs stretched out to the sides like an eagle

How Widespread

to pervade
22 6.7
to go viral
  • Texting
61 3.8
to spread
750 1.6
to circulate
103 3.9
to leak
219 4.1

Surface Forms

spread infinitive
spread past
spread past participle
spreading present participle
spreads third person singular

Etymology

Spread comes from an old word meaning 'stretch', like something moving outward from one place to many. That's why news or rumours 'spread'—they reach more and more people.