spot
Americannoun
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a rounded mark or stain made by foreign matter, as mud, blood, paint, ink, etc.; a blot or speck.
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something that mars one's character or reputation; blemish; flaw.
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a small blemish, mole, or lesion on the skin or other surface.
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a small, circumscribed mark caused by disease, allergic reaction, decay, etc.
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a comparatively small, usually roundish, part of a surface differing from the rest in color, texture, character, etc..
a bald spot.
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a place or locality.
A monument marks the spot where Washington slept.
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Usually spots places of entertainment or sightseeing interest.
We went to a few spots to dance and see the floor shows.
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a specific position in a sequence or hierarchy.
The choral group has the second spot on the program, right after the dancers. He moved up from second spot to become president of the firm.
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Cards.
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one of various traditional, geometric drawings of a club, diamond, heart, or spade on a playing card for indicating suit and value.
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any playing card from a two through a ten.
He drew a jack, a queen, and a three spot.
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a pip, as on dice or dominoes.
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Slang. a piece of paper money, almost always indicated as a five- or ten-dollar bill.
Can you loan me a five spot until payday?
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Also called spot illustration. a small drawing, usually black and white, appearing within or accompanying a text.
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Chiefly British Informal.
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a small quantity of anything.
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a drink.
a spot of tea.
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a small croaker, Leiostomus xanthurus, of the eastern coast of the U.S., used as a food fish.
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Informal. spots, commodities, as grain, wool, and soybeans, sold for immediate delivery.
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Informal. spotlight.
verb (used with object)
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to stain or mark with spots.
The grease spotted my dress.
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to remove a spot or spots from (clothing), especially before dry cleaning.
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to sully; blemish.
- Synonyms:
- tarnish, soil, stigmatize, taint, stain
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to mark or diversify with spots or dots, as of color.
We spotted the wall with blue paint.
- Synonyms:
- speckle
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to detect or recognize; locate or identify by seeing.
to spot a hiding child.
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to place or position on a particular place.
to spot a billiard ball.
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to stop (a railroad car) at the exact place required.
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to scatter in various places.
to spot chairs here and there in the room.
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Informal. spotlight.
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Military.
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to determine (a location) precisely on either the ground or a map.
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to observe (the results of gunfire at or near a target) for the purpose of correcting aim.
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Photography. to remove spots from (a negative or print) by covering with opaque color.
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Sports. to give or grant a certain margin or advantage to (an opponent).
He spotted the tyro 12 points a game. The champion won, although spotting the challenger twenty pounds.
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(in gymnastics) to watch or assist (a performer) in order to prevent injury.
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Slang. to lend.
Can you spot me twenty for tonight's game?
verb (used without object)
adjective
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Radio, Television.
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pertaining to the point of origin of a local broadcast.
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broadcast between announced programs.
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made, paid, delivered, etc., at once.
a spot sale; spot goods.
idioms
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in a (bad) spot, in an uncomfortable or dangerous predicament.
The tourists found themselves in a bad spot after they lost their money in Las Vegas.
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knock spots off, to outdo easily; beat.
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on the spot,
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without delay; at once; instantly.
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at the very place in question.
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in a difficult or embarrassing position.
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in a position of being expected to act or to respond in some way.
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hit the high spots, to deal with or include only the major points of interest.
With but a limited amount of vacation time, he concentrated on hitting the high spots of Europe.
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hit the spot, to satisfy a want or need, as to quench thirst.
Iced tea hits the spot during the hot summer months.
noun
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a small mark on a surface, such as a circular patch or stain, differing in colour or texture from its surroundings
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a geographical area that is restricted in extent
a beauty spot
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a location
this is the exact spot on which he died
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a blemish of the skin, esp a pimple or one occurring through some disease
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a blemish on the character of a person; moral flaw
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informal a place of entertainment
we hit all the night spots
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informal a small quantity or amount
a spot of lunch
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informal an awkward situation
that puts me in a bit of a spot
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a short period between regular television or radio programmes that is used for advertising
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a position or length of time in a show assigned to a specific performer
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short for spotlight
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Also called: spot ball. the white ball that is distinguished from the plain by a mark or spot
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the player using this ball
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billiards snooker one of several small black dots on a table that mark where a ball is to be placed
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(modifier)
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denoting or relating to goods, currencies, or securities available for immediate delivery and payment See also spot market spot price
spot goods
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involving immediate cash payment
spot sales
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(used mainly in negative constructions) to reform one's character
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an outstanding event
the high spot of the holiday was the visit to the winery
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to outstrip or outdo with ease
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immediately
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at the place in question
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in the best possible position to deal with a situation
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in an awkward predicament
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without moving from the place of one's location, etc
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( as modifier )
our on-the-spot reporter
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a special sympathetic affection or weakness for a person or thing
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a serious, difficult, or dangerous situation
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some aspect of a character or situation that is susceptible to criticism
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a flaw in a person's knowledge
classics is my weak spot
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verb
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(tr) to observe or perceive suddenly, esp under difficult circumstances; discern
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to put stains or spots upon (something)
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(intr) (of some fabrics) to be susceptible to spotting by or as if by water
silk spots easily
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(tr) to place here and there
they spotted observers along the border
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to look out for and note (trains, talent, etc)
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(intr) to rain slightly; spit
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(tr) billiards to place (a ball) on one of the spots
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military to adjust fire in order to correct deviations from (the target) by observation
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informal (tr) to yield (an advantage or concession) to (one's opponent)
to spot someone a piece in chess
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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spotsimple
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spotssimple
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have spottedperfect
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has spottedperfect
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am spottingprogressive
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are spottingprogressive
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is spottingprogressive
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have been spottingperfect progressive
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has been spottingperfect progressive
Past
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spottedsimple
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had spottedperfect
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was spottingprogressive
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were spottingprogressive
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had been spottingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spot
First recorded in 1150–1200; (for the noun) Middle English spotte; cognate with Middle Dutch, Low German spot “speck,” Old Norse spotti “bit”; (for the verb) late Middle English spotten “to stain, mark,” derivative of the noun
Explanation
A spot is a particular place or a small, round mark. You might pick a nice, shady spot in the woods for a picnic. But if you spot a better place by the lake, get moving! Spots on your face might be pimples—or maybe mosquito bites you got walking in a swampy spot. Another kind of spot is a small part of something, like the bright spot in your miserable day, or the bald spot on someone’s head. Spot is also shorthand for "spotlight" and slang for money, as in "He handed me a ten spot." To spot something is to see it: "When you spot the ice cream truck, call me!"
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:
O'Connor responded by running a dominant 24.14 seconds in the 200m to reclaim top spot of the heptathlon competition.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Out the window, I noticed a spot in the alley where the thawing and freezing of ice had created a ravine, where car tires would get lodged and trap the driver.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
In a case filed on Sept. 11, 2024, Waymo got hit with its biggest fine to date after one of its vehicles parked in a parking spot reserved for the disabled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Nvidia, as the chipmaker at the center of the AI boom, had held the No. 1 spot for over a year after overtaking Apple in May 2025.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
There are still lines on the floor of the treehouse, though, marking the spot where it used to be.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Because the process is largely automated, fake tracks often remain online until a rights-owner spots them and alerts the platform.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
A tumultuous year marred by wildfires, tariffs, immigration raids, increasing rent and labor costs saw some of the city’s most famous restaurants closing, from Michelin-starred fine dining to cozy mom-and-pop spots.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
That has made the business of exercise one of the few bright spots in China’s generally dour consumer economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Firefighters said miles-long firebreaks had helped to contain the latest break-outs on Thursday night while drones were directing crews to hot spots.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
All the blood rushed from my head, and I put my head between my knees as dark spots swam in front of my eyes.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
They were spotted together multiple times soon afterward, including holding hands in Los Angeles the day after the Chargers’ seasonopener in Brazil last September.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Los Angeles police officers responded to the bridge at about 8 a.m. after the man was spotted climbing the bridge, said Officer Charles Miller with the Los Angeles Police Department.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
The black-crowned night heron is widespread across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe but has now been spotted at National Trust's Holnicote Estate, near Minehead.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The researchers found significant variability in the advice and spotted some potential demographic biases.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
Jeremy spotted an old man—Mr. Elives?—polishing a glass countertop.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
Including your horse starting to move forward just before the gate opens, then hitting the side of the stall and spotting the field several lengths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
After putting down the tag, and spotting the home plate umpire’s safe motion, Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing immediately pointed to the Dodgers’ dugout, urging manager Dave Roberts to challenge the call.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The military has even introduced a new type of guard duty, where soldiers assigned as sky watchers take turns spotting incoming drones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
"I am good at spotting talent," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
I actually laughed and, spotting a honey-free place near the base of the statue, worked to get it covered up.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
