spay
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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spays,
present (3rd person singular)
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spayed,
past participle, past
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spaying
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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spaysimple
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spayssimple
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have spayedperfect
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has spayedperfect
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am spayingprogressive
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are spayingprogressive
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is spayingprogressive
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have been spayingperfect progressive
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has been spayingperfect progressive
Past
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spayedsimple
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had spayedperfect
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was spayingprogressive
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were spayingprogressive
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had been spayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spay1
1375–1425; late Middle English spayen < Anglo-French espeïer to cut with a sword ( Old French espeer ), derivative of espee sword; see épée
Origin of spay2
1375–1425; late Middle English < ?
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:
Gabrielle Amster was director of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace from 2021 to 2025 and is credited with increasing adoptions and improving access to spay and neuter services, according to the mayor’s office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
To help control the population, the city launched the Citywide Cat Program in 2022, which provides funding to help organizations humanely catch cats, spay or neuter them, and release them back into the wild.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 2026
His legislation would also provide free vaccinations and spay or neuter services to the felines.
From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026
A dog spay is on average about £300.
From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2024
“Thank you for your call. Please spay or neuter your pets.”
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
The group feeds, spays and neuters cats, and places them into adoption.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 28, 2023
The “work up” for all strays and any surrendered cats or dogs without up-to-date health/medical care documents includes basic health exams, vaccinations, spays or neuters and microchips.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 24, 2021
She also opposes public funds being given to business owners rather than low-income families who want their cats spayed or neutered.
From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026
After having Jessie spayed, Mrs Dawson found a wound and took her pet to the emergency vets.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025
The study included 11 adult spayed female cats.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2023
For years, Barker signed off “The Price Is Right” by saying, “Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2023
An altered female dog or cat is spayed.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
These would include vet visits, mandatory spaying or neutering, and ensuring the cats have sufficient food, water and a safe place to sleep.
From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026
They specifically looked at the correlation between neutering or spaying a dog before 1 year of age and a dog's risk of developing certain cancers.
From Science Daily ● May 28, 2024
This past February, Dunn’s shelter held a clinic for spaying and neutering outdoor cats.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2024
By spaying and neutering our cats, “we’re taking away some of the behaviors that they would naturally exhibit that might prevent them from forming these relationships,” says Delgado.
From Slate ● Jan. 18, 2024
After giving our opinion and prescribing the usual remedies, the conversation turned upon spaying cattle; and Mr. D. remarked that he had a five year old cow, on which we might, if we chose, operate.
From The American Reformed Cattle Doctor by George Dadd
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.
