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
- nonspottable adjective
- respot verb
- spotlike adjective
- spottable adjective
- unspottable adjective
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
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.
Take a spot with your Tesla or Hyundai at your own risk.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
The Blue Sharks secured top spot in their qualifying group ahead of African heavyweights Cameroon.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
A growing share of its business now operates under contract rather than spot pricing.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
Powered car camping, which the Coachella site says gets you a guaranteed spot with a power outlet and access to upgraded showers and bathrooms, runs for $700 with the tax included.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
The van buoys like a boat on a stormy lake until we finally reach the spot.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
