spill

[ spil ]

/ spɪl /

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See synonyms for: spill / spilled / spilling / spilt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), spilled or spilt, spill·ing.

to cause or allow to run or fall from a container, especially accidentally or wastefully: to spill a bag of marbles; to spill milk.

to shed (blood), as in killing or wounding.

to scatter: to spill papers all over everything.

Nautical.

to let the wind out of (a sail).
to lose (wind) from a sail.

to cause to fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like: His horse spilled him.

Informal. to divulge, disclose, or tell: Don't spill the secret.

verb (used without object), spilled or spilt, spill·ing.

(of a liquid, loose particles, etc.) to run or escape from a container, especially by accident or in careless handling.

noun

a spilling, as of liquid.

a quantity spilled.

the mark made by something spilled.

a spillway.

Also called spill light

[spil-lahyt] /ˈspɪl ˌlaɪt/ . superfluous or useless light rays, as from theatrical or photographic lighting units.

Theater. an area of a stage illuminated by spill light.

a throw or fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like: She broke her arm in a spill.

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Idioms about spill

spill the beans. bean (def. 11).

spill / toss one's cookies. cookie (def. 8).

spill one's guts. Slang. gut (def. 14).

Origin of spill

First recorded before 950; 1920–25 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

OTHER WORDS FROM spill

spill·a·ble, adjective, nounnon·spill·a·ble, adjectiveun·spilled, adjective

Words nearby spill

spike-rush, spike-tooth harrow, spiky, spile, spiling, spill, spillage, Spillane, spillikin, spillikins, spillover

Other definitions for spill (2 of 2)

spill²

[ spil ]

/ spɪl /

noun

a splinter.

a slender piece of wood or of twisted paper, for lighting candles, lamps, etc.

a peg made of metal.

a small pin for stopping a cask; spile.

Mining. forepole.

Origin of spill

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English spille, spil(e); of uncertain origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spill in a sentence

Safely store drinks in two cup holders built into the arm rest and—should any spills happen—you can easily clean up the faux leather surface.
Comfortable sofa beds for a peaceful night’s sleep|PopSci Commerce Team|September 11, 2020|Popular-Science
These mighty, microfiber towels are capable of dissolving big spills, plus they retain their shape after multiple washes.
Dish towels to tackle almost any mess|PopSci Commerce Team|September 10, 2020|Popular-Science
Since then, these microbes have been used to clean up oil spills and radioactive waste.
Will bacterial ‘wires’ one day power your phone?|Alison Pearce Stevens|September 2, 2020|Science News For Students
Three weeks ago, I was looking down into my husband’s unblinking eyes, seeing blood spill from his nose and mouth, and feeling my hand trying to stop the bleeding from the back of his head.
Anti-maskers assaulted my husband|Matt Foreman|September 1, 2020|Washington Blade

She says that after watching Pacific Gas and Electric cut corners and try to cover up spills and plumes, she’s started to notice negligence patterns, and there’s no national database for those toxic hot spots.
Erin Brockovich Is at It Again|Heather Hansman|August 27, 2020|Outside Online
A new paper outlines five steps required for a virus to ‘spill over’ from bats to humans.
Bats’ Link to Ebola Finally Solved|Carrie Arnold|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the immediate aftermath of the oil spill, apoplectic Southerners cast their disdain towards the North.
Deepwater Horizon: Life Drowning in Oil|Samuel Fragoso|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Since the spill, the number of unemployed residents in Louisiana and Alabama has only increased.
Deepwater Horizon: Life Drowning in Oil|Samuel Fragoso|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bewildered adolescents, many of them accompanied by equally confused guardians, spill out into the hallway.
The Border Kid Crisis Hits the Courts|Caitlin Dickson|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nor is it the way the gunman manages not to spill a drop of the drink in his other hand as he commits all this savagery.
Bronx Gunman Shot His Friend, Didn’t Spill His Drink|Michael Daly|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am of opinion too, that the Indecency of the next Verse, you spill upon me, would admit of an equal Correction.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
I knew that in the open I could in some way spill the horn, so that she would be helpless and harmless afterward.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler
The ashes there are never to be taken out, no matter if they are piled a foot thick, and spill all over the floor.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
But first must you win scars and spill the blood of your foes, that all may learn to fear the utterance of your name.
Menotah|Ernest G. Henham
And you would spill blood sooner than your betters should know it—ye ninny-cumpoops!
It Is Never Too Late to Mend|Charles Reade

British Dictionary definitions for spill (1 of 2)

spill¹

/ (spɪl) /

verb spills, spilling, spilt or spilled (mainly tr)

(when intr, usually foll by from, out of, etc) to fall or cause to fall from or as from a container, esp unintentionally

to disgorge (contents, occupants, etc) or (of contents, occupants, etc) to be disgorgedthe car spilt its passengers onto the road; the crowd spilt out of the theatre

to shed (blood)

Also: spill the beans informal to disclose something confidential

nautical to let (wind) escape from a sail or (of the wind) to escape from a sail

noun

informal a fall or tumble

short for spillway

a spilling of liquid, etc, or the amount spilt

Australian the declaring of several political jobs vacant when one higher up becomes sothe Prime Minister's resignation could mean a Cabinet spill

Derived forms of spill

spiller, noun

Word Origin for spill

Old English spillan to destroy; related to spildan, Old High German spaltan to split; see spoil

British Dictionary definitions for spill (2 of 2)

spill²

/ (spɪl) /

noun

a splinter of wood or strip of twisted paper with which pipes, fires, etc, are lit

a small peg or rod made of metal

Word Origin for spill

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German spilla, Middle Dutch spile stake

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with spill

spill

In addition to the idiom beginning with spill

spill the beans

also see:

shed (spill) blood
take a spill

spill

Idioms about spill

Origin of spill

OTHER WORDS FROM spill

Words nearby spill

Other definitions for spill (2 of 2)

Origin of spill

Words related to spill

How to use spill in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spill (1 of 2)

Derived forms of spill

Word Origin for spill

British Dictionary definitions for spill (2 of 2)

Word Origin for spill

Other Idioms and Phrases with spill