spill
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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spills,
present (3rd person singular)
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spilled,
past participle, past
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spilt,
past participle, past
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spilling
present participle
-
to cause or allow to run or fall from a container, especially accidentally or wastefully.
to spill a bag of marbles; to spill milk.
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to shed (blood), as in killing or wounding.
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to scatter.
to spill papers all over everything.
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Nautical.
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to let the wind out of (a sail).
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to lose (wind) from a sail.
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to cause to fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like.
His horse spilled him.
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Informal. to divulge, disclose, or tell.
Don't spill the secret.
verb (used without object)
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spills,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spilled,
past participle, past
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spilt,
past participle, past
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spilling
present participle
noun
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a spilling, as of liquid.
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a quantity spilled.
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the mark made by something spilled.
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a spillway.
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Also called spill light. superfluous or useless light rays, as from theatrical or photographic lighting units.
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Theater. an area of a stage illuminated by spill light.
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a throw or fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like.
She broke her arm in a spill.
noun
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a splinter.
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a slender piece of wood or of twisted paper, for lighting candles, lamps, etc.
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a peg made of metal.
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a small pin for stopping a cask; spile.
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Mining. forepole.
verb
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to fall or cause to fall from or as from a container, esp unintentionally
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to disgorge (contents, occupants, etc) or (of contents, occupants, etc) to be disgorged
the car spilt its passengers onto the road
the crowd spilt out of the theatre
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to shed (blood)
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Also: spill the beans. informal to disclose something confidential
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nautical to let (wind) escape from a sail or (of the wind) to escape from a sail
noun
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informal a fall or tumble
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short for spillway
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a spilling of liquid, etc, or the amount spilt
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the declaring of several political jobs vacant when one higher up becomes so
the Prime Minister's resignation could mean a Cabinet spill
noun
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a splinter of wood or strip of twisted paper with which pipes, fires, etc, are lit
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a small peg or rod made of metal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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spillsimple
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spillssimple
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have spilledperfect
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have spiltperfect
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has spilledperfect
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has spiltperfect
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am spillingprogressive
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are spillingprogressive
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is spillingprogressive
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have been spillingperfect progressive
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has been spillingperfect progressive
Past
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spilledsimple
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spiltsimple
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had spilledperfect
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had spiltperfect
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was spillingprogressive
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were spillingprogressive
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had been spillingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spill1
First recorded before 950; 1920–25 spill 1 for def. 6; Middle English spillen “to kill, destroy, shed (blood),” Old English spillan “to kill”; cognate with Middle High German, Middle Dutch spillen; akin to spoil
Origin of spill2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English spille, spil(e); of uncertain origin
Explanation
When liquids spill, they accidentally flow or dribble out of a container. You can also spill solid objects, like when you slip and spill the contents of your backpack all over the sidewalk. When you spill your hot chocolate, the spot it makes where it lands is a spill. The act of spilling it is a spill too: "Sorry about the spill, Grandma." You can take a spill yourself, like when you tumble to the ground from your bike. Spill also means "talk," especially in the context of "spill the beans" or "spill your guts," both basically meaning "tell the whole truth."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
This weakens or even reverses the vortex's west-to-east winds, which can split it apart and cause it to spill southward.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
Although Moore did not hint at a timeline, she did spill her feelings on the dwelling, which she said she “had spotted” while she “was wandering” one day.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
A major recovery effort is continuing after an oil spill caused by the vandalism of a nearby home heating oil tank resulted in the death of 13 birds from Broughshane Waterfowl Park.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
Of the 29,000-gallon total spill volume, 15,000 gallons of sewage was recovered, and 14,000 gallons was discharged to the ocean, the city said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
“Being so young in your magic, you wouldn’t know this, but there are ways to make truths spill from lips like water from a fountain.”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
When oil spills from his dusty, beat-up blue car, it pools into the shape of a big, black rabbit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Sewage spills are on the rise, contaminating waterways, flooding streets and threatening ecological and public health.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
"Which is why we're investing £11m at our storm overflows to reduce spills to fewer than 20 a year by 2030," it added.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
“California’s beaches, coastal communities, and multi-billion-dollar economy depend on oceans free of oil spills, both now and for future generations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
I wasn’t supposed to tell anybody what happened with Moreau today, but as soon as Elsie gets back from Junior Researcher training everything spills out of my mouth.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
“And that became part of the story,” Melvin said, before confirming that he had apologized for the spilled chocolate when it had happened.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
As the first light of dawn spilled over the Badlands, Livieri drove the newly vaccinated kit back to the burrow where her green eyes had flashed a few hours earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
Moloney-MacDonald cost her side an early try in the defeat by Canada when, after doing superbly to pick Jess Breach's pass off her toes, she spilled the ball over the line in the sixth minute.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Two ships were hit off the Bulgarian coast on October 6, followed by another two on Tuesday -- the first time the conflict has spilled over into the waters off the country.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Note: Even if your waterer should last your flock for several days, you must still check it, in case the water has been dirtied, spilled, etc.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
Half-backs Marcus Smith and Jack van Poortvliet both missed out on selection last week and are named on a 6-2 bench spilt.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026
My motto in investing has always been cry over spilt milk, for analyzing errors is how you learn almost everything.
From Barron's ● Dec. 31, 2025
Following a surprise defeat by England in round two, Galthie has opted for a 7-1 bench spilt, which helped inflict an 11-try hammering of Italy.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2025
In another clip, we see a man scrabbling in the roadway to gather up spilt flour.
From BBC ● Feb. 29, 2024
“Don’t cry over spilt milk, honey,” says Mom.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Another benefit is that it shields their executives from testifying in court or insider documents spilling into the public domain.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Rather than merely gathering a grab bag of cinematic artifacts and spilling them forth, they have subdivided their hoard of nearly 400 items within six genre-themed galleries: Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Iranian state media shared footage of a ship matching Gem No.2 which appeared to show the vessel on fire with burning oil spilling into the sea.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Cortez blamed the city for not taking any permanent or lasting measures to prevent the ocean from spilling into the streets, such as putting in place a concrete barrier or reinforcing the seawall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Clutching Torak’s quiver, Renn raced to the edge of the trail and tripped on a tree root, spilling arrows in the dirt.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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