spreading
spreading — verb
1. When a thing is spreading, the area it covers is becoming larger and larger; you
When a thing is spreading, the area it covers is becoming larger and larger; you can also use it to mean making that area grow.
The wildfire was spreading quickly through the dry forest north of Lisbon.
intransitive: spread + through + place
Naoko watched the ink stain spreading across the white tablecloth.
spread + across + surface (visible expansion)
Strong winds were spreading the smoke over three nearby villages.
transitive: subject causes the expansion
By morning, the flood waters had spread far beyond the riverbanks.
The oil slick is spreading outward from the damaged tanker.
spread + outward (direction adverb)
- spread quickly
- spread rapidly
- spread outward
- spread across the floor
Grammar Patterns
spread + (across/through/over) + place
spread + something + (across/through/over) + place
Usage Note
Often used with prepositions of direction or place (across, through, over, into, outward). The intransitive form is more common when describing natural processes such as fire, smoke, or liquid.
Common Mistakes
2. If a disease, idea, mood, or habit spreads, it starts reaching new people or pla
If a disease, idea, mood, or habit spreads, it starts reaching new people or places one after another, until many are affected; you can also spread it on purpose.
The flu spread through Tuan's school in just a few days.
spread + through + group of people
Panic spread among the passengers when the lights went out on the train.
spread + among + people (emotion subject)
Eshe used social media to spread news about the missing dog.
transitive: deliberate spreading of information
Coughing without covering your mouth can spread germs to everyone in the room.
spread + germs/disease + to + people
The new dance trend has spread from Seoul to teenagers all over Asia.
spread + from + place + to + people
- spread a rumour
- spread the word
- spread panic
- spread quickly
- the virus spreads
Grammar Patterns
spread + (from/to/among) + people
spread + something + (to/among) + people
Usage Note
Subject is typically something that affects others — a disease, rumour, fear, fashion, belief, or habit. With the transitive form, the subject is the agent who causes the wider effect (a person, the media, a website).
Common Mistakes
3. If something such as a city, a forest, or a view spreads, it takes up a large pi
If something such as a city, a forest, or a view spreads, it takes up a large piece of land or water — usually you can see it stretching far in front of you.
From the hilltop, Imran could see the city spreading out below him.
spread + out + (place phrase) — describing a wide view
Tea fields spread for miles along the green slopes of the valley.
spread + for + distance
The old port town spreads along both sides of the river.
spread + along + linear feature
A vast desert spread out before the travellers as they left the last village.
spread + out + before + observer
- spread out before
- spread for miles
- spread along the coast
- the city spreads
Grammar Patterns
spread + (out/across/over/along) + place
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (EXPAND OUTWARD): this sense is static — the area does not grow; the thing simply is large and stretches far. Subject is usually a landscape, settlement, or view.
Common Mistakes
4. If a group of people or things is spread across several locations, the members a
If a group of people or things is spread across several locations, the members are found in separate places rather than gathered together; you can also distribute things this way on purpose.
The Okonkwo family is spread across four different countries.
passive: be spread + across + places
Our offices are spread throughout Southeast Asia, from Bangkok to Manila.
passive: be spread + throughout + region
Christopher decided to spread his savings between three different banks.
transitive: spread + things + between/among + places
The library has spread its rare books across two protected storerooms.
transitive: spread + things + across + places (deliberate)
- be spread across
- be spread throughout
- spread your investments
- spread the risk
- distribute
more formal; emphasises a planned arrangement
- scatter
suggests a less ordered, more random distribution
- concentrate
to bring or keep things in one place
- gather
to bring separate things together
Grammar Patterns
be spread + (across/throughout/over) + places
spread + things/people + (across/over) + places
Usage Note
Frequently passive ('be spread across/throughout'). Distinguish from sense 1: here the subject is a set of separate items already in different places — the items are not getting larger or moving outward together.
Common Mistakes
5. If you spread something such as a map, a blanket, or a newspaper, you open it up
If you spread something such as a map, a blanket, or a newspaper, you open it up from a folded shape and lay it flat so that it now covers a bigger surface.
Asher spread the picnic blanket on the grass under the cherry tree.
spread + flat object + on + surface
The hikers spread the map out across the kitchen table to plan their route.
spread + something + out + across + surface
Élise spread her wet raincoat over the back of a chair to dry.
spread + clothing + over + surface
The eagle spread its huge wings before lifting off the cliff.
spread + body part (wings) — open from a closed position
- spread a blanket
- spread a map
- spread out the newspaper
- spread its wings
Grammar Patterns
spread + something + (out) + (on/across/over) + surface
Usage Note
Object must be something that can be folded, closed, or held tight — a cloth, paper, map, blanket, or wings. Often paired with the particle 'out' to stress the opening movement.
Common Mistakes
6. If you spread a number of small items on a surface, you put them down across the
If you spread a number of small items on a surface, you put them down across the whole area — usually with space between each item or in a single thin layer, not stacked into a pile.
Caio spread the photographs across the desk so the editor could compare them.
spread + things + across + surface (single layer)
The teacher spread the children's drawings out on the classroom floor.
spread + things + out + on + surface
Sven spread the puzzle pieces over the coffee table and started sorting them by colour.
spread + many small items + over + surface
Maja spread the playing cards face-up on the rug to count the missing ones.
spread + cards + on + surface (with manner detail)
- spread the papers
- spread the cards
- spread out on the floor
- spread across the table
Grammar Patterns
spread + things + (out) + on/across/over + surface
Usage Note
Object is typically a plural set of small, flat-ish items (papers, cards, photos, tools, food). Distinguish from sense 5: there you open one folded thing; here you arrange many separate things across an area.
Common Mistakes
7. to open out parts of the body — typically the hands, feet, or limbs — so each pa
to open out parts of the body — typically the hands, feet, or limbs — so each part is as distant from the others as possible.
Reema spread her fingers wide and pressed her palm against the wet paint.
spread + fingers (body part as object)
The yoga teacher told us to spread our toes and grip the mat firmly.
spread + toes
Mert lay on the sand and spread his arms like a starfish.
spread + arms (open posture)
Spread your legs about shoulder-width apart before you start the squat.
imperative + spread + legs
The eagle spread its wings and glided slowly above the cliffs.
spread + wings (animal subject)
- spread your fingers
- spread your arms wide
- spread its wings
- stretch out
more general; can apply to whole body
- splay
stronger image of fingers or limbs forced wide apart
- close
for fingers or wings drawn back together
Grammar Patterns
spread + body part
Usage Note
Object is almost always a body part (arms, legs, fingers, toes) or wings. Distinguish from sense 5 (unfolding cloth or paper), where the object is an inanimate flat thing.
Common Mistakes
8. to pass news, rumours, or information from one person to many people, or for tha
to pass news, rumours, or information from one person to many people, or for that information to travel quickly between people.
Word of the surprise engagement spread across the village in a single afternoon.
intransitive: news + spread + across [place]
Stefan begged us not to spread the rumour that he was leaving the team.
transitive: spread + rumour + that-clause
The charity uses short videos to spread its message about clean drinking water.
spread + a message + about [topic]
News of the train delay spread quickly through the crowded station.
spread + quickly (adverb of speed)
Please don't spread this around the office until I tell my manager.
informal: spread + around [place]
- spread the news
- spread a rumour
- spread the word
- rumours spread
- suppress
to actively prevent information from spreading
Grammar Patterns
spread + news/rumour
news/rumour + spread
Usage Note
Frequently intransitive with abstract subjects like 'word', 'news', 'rumour', 'panic'. Distinguish from sense 2 (about diseases or feelings affecting people physically); this sense is about information travelling between speakers.
Common Mistakes
9. to divide a task, cost, or amount into parts so that different people, places, o
to divide a task, cost, or amount into parts so that different people, places, or periods of time each take a share.
Lara wanted to spread the wedding costs across six monthly payments.
spread + costs + across [time periods]
The coach spread the training drills evenly between the new players.
spread + tasks + between [people]
Risk is usually spread among several investors so no one loses too much.
passive: be spread + among [people]
Try to spread your study hours over the whole week instead of cramming.
spread + hours + over [period]
Jabari suggested we spread the gardening jobs across the four of us.
spread + jobs + across + [number] of us
- spread the cost
- spread the risk
- spread the workload
- spread payments over
- distribute
more formal; common in financial or logistical writing
- divide
stresses the act of splitting; less about easing burden
- stagger
specifically for spreading events across time
- concentrate
to put all of something in one time or place
Grammar Patterns
spread sth between/among/across sb
spread sth over [time]
Usage Note
Always followed by 'between', 'among', 'across', or 'over' to mark how the parts are divided. Object is typically work, money, time, or risk. Often passive when the focus is on the result, not the agent.
Common Mistakes
10. to push a soft food or paste over the top of something so it forms a thin layer;
to push a soft food or paste over the top of something so it forms a thin layer; or, said of such a substance, to be soft enough to apply in this manner.
Ari spread peanut butter thickly over a slice of warm toast.
spread + [food] + over + [surface]
This butter is too cold to spread without tearing the bread.
intransitive: [food] + spreads + adverb
Spread a thin layer of glue along the edge of the wood before joining the panels.
imperative: spread + a layer + along + [surface]
Ilan spread sunscreen on his daughter's shoulders before they walked to the beach.
spread + [cream] + on + [body part]
The cream cheese spreads easily once you let it warm up on the counter.
intransitive: cheese + spreads + easily
- spread butter on
- spread jam on
- spread evenly
- spread thinly
- scrape off
to remove a layer that has been applied
Grammar Patterns
spread sth on/over sth
sth spreads + adverb (easily, thinly)
Usage Note
Object is a soft substance (butter, jam, glue, cream); the surface follows 'on', 'onto', 'over', or 'along'. The intransitive use describes how easy the substance is to apply — 'spreads easily / thinly / smoothly'. Distinguish from sense 6 (arranging separate objects across a surface).
Common Mistakes
11. with a smile as subject: to grow gradually wider across the features of a person
with a smile as subject: to grow gradually wider across the features of a person, often as a quiet sign of pleasure or recognition.
A slow smile spread across Sayaka's face as she opened the letter from her brother.
a smile + spread + across + [person]'s face
When Kenji recognised his old teacher, a wide grin spread over his face.
a grin + spread + over + face
A small, surprised smile spread across Tara's lips when she heard the news.
smile + spread + across + lips
A warm smile spread slowly across the old man's face at the sight of his granddaughter.
literary: smile + spread + slowly + across + face
- a smile spread across her face
- a grin spread slowly
- a wide smile spread over
- fade
for a smile slowly leaving the face
Grammar Patterns
a smile spreads across/over sb's face
Usage Note
Almost always used in narrative or literary writing, with 'a smile / grin' as subject and 'across' or 'over' someone's face. The smile is the only common subject; do not say 'a frown spread' or 'sadness spread' for this sense.
Common Mistakes
spread out
phrasal verbIf a group of people spread out, they move apart from each other so that they cover a wider area, usually to search for something or to make more room.
The rescue team spread out across the hillside to look for the missing climber.
Eric told the children to spread out so each one had space to paint.
spread something over (a period)
phrasal verbto arrange a payment, task, or activity so that it is divided into smaller parts that happen across a longer time.
Ayesha spread the cost of the new laptop over twelve monthly payments.
The school spread the exam papers over three days so students would not get tired.
spread your wings
idiomto start trying new things or going to new places after a time of staying safe and familiar, often as part of growing up or becoming more independent.
After ten years at the same company, Lara felt ready to spread her wings and start her own studio.
Going abroad for university gave Pedro the chance to spread his wings.
to try to do so many different things at once that you cannot do any of them properly.
Between her job, evening classes, and the volunteer group, Sofie was spreading herself too thin.
Don't spread yourself too thin — pick two projects and finish them well.
spread the word
idiomto tell a piece of news or information to many people so that it becomes widely known.
Andrés is organising a free clinic on Saturday — please help spread the word.
Once teachers spread the word, dozens of students signed up for the trip.
spread like wildfire
idiomIf news, a rumour, or a disease spreads like wildfire, it reaches a huge number of people very quickly.
The video of the rescue spread like wildfire on social media overnight.
Rumours about the merger spread like wildfire through the office.
spreading — noun
1. the way that something gradually grows bigger, reaches more places, or starts to
the way that something gradually grows bigger, reaches more places, or starts to affect more people over time.
Doctors are worried about the rapid spreading of the virus across rural villages.
noun + 'of' + disease/problem
The spreading of the wildfire forced Maeve and her neighbours to leave their homes.
Heavy rain helped slow the spreading of the chemical leak into the river.
subject + slow/stop + spreading
Scientists tracked the spreading of the oil stain from the harbour to the open sea.
The slow spreading of the rash on João's arm worried his mother for days.
- rapid spreading
- slow spreading
- the spreading of disease
- prevent the spreading
- control the spreading
- containment
active effort to stop the spreading, often used in medicine and emergency response
- shrinkage
process of getting smaller in area or amount
Grammar Patterns
the spreading of + noun
spreading from + noun
Usage Note
Almost always uncountable and almost always followed by 'of'. Subjects are typically things that physically grow outward (fire, disease, stain) or expand into new areas; for ideas or news, sense 2 is preferred.
Common Mistakes
2. the action of passing news, ideas, beliefs, or information from one person to ma
the action of passing news, ideas, beliefs, or information from one person to many others.
Social media has made the spreading of false rumours faster than ever before.
noun + 'of' + ideas/rumours/news
Nadia's blog focuses on the spreading of climate science to ordinary readers.
The library supports the spreading of knowledge through free reading clubs for children.
Local police are investigating the spreading of harmful messages about the new mayor.
with negative content: rumours, lies, hate
Translators play a quiet role in the spreading of poetry across languages and borders.
- the spreading of rumours
- the spreading of knowledge
- the spreading of the gospel
- prevent the spreading of misinformation
- dissemination
more formal, often used in academic or official contexts
- circulation
stresses passing through a group; common with rumours and printed material
- propagation
formal; suggests deliberate effort to multiply followers of a belief
- suppression
deliberate effort to stop information from reaching others
- censorship
official blocking of information, usually by a government
Grammar Patterns
the spreading of + information/ideas/rumours
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense takes abstract objects (information, beliefs, rumours, gospel), while sense 1 takes physical or biological objects (disease, fire, stain). Frequently appears with judgement words like 'false', 'harmful', or 'free'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- spreadverbA2
- spreadnounB1
- spreadernounC1
- widespreadadjectiveB2
- outspreadadjectiveC2
- bedspreadnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five verbs describe something reaching a wider area, but they differ in scope and register. 'Spread' is the most general and neutral — equally at home with butter on toast, fire across a forest, or rumours through an office. 'Expand' emphasises growth in size or volume from within, often gradual and measurable (a balloon expands; a company expands). 'Extend' suggests reaching further in one direction, like a road or a deadline. 'Scatter' implies a sudden, uneven distribution, often by force (the wind scattered the leaves). 'Disperse' is more formal and frequently used of crowds or particles thinning out into the air. 'Disseminate' is the most formal of the group and is reserved for information, ideas, or research findings shared deliberately to reach a wide audience. So a virus spreads through a city, but a public health agency disseminates guidelines about it.
Common collocations
Nouns
- spread of disease
- spread of fire
- spread of information
- rapid spread
- wide spread
- double-page spread
Adverbs
- spread rapidly
- spread quickly
- spread widely
- spread evenly
- spread thinly
Phrases
- spread the word
- spread the news
- spread the cost
- spread the risk
- spread like wildfire
Prepositions
- spread across
- spread through
- spread over
- spread among
- spread between
Etymology
The verb traces back to Old English 'sprædan', meaning to stretch out or extend, with cognates in Old High German and other Germanic languages. By the 13th century the Middle English form 'spreden' had taken on its full range of modern senses: covering an area, distributing widely, and making news known. The noun 'spread' developed later from the verb in the 17th century, originally describing the act or extent of spreading; the gerund 'spreading' uses the standard '-ing' nominalization to refer to the ongoing process or act itself, especially of disease, news, or ideas.