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.
-
-
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)
-
spills,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spilled,
past participle, past
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spilt,
past participle, past
-
spilling
present participle
noun
-
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
Long Beach Utilities rerouted the sewage flow with a bypass line and called in emergency contractor Ocean Blue to assist with spill cleanup efforts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
One of the most important elements from Friday’s release was the intention to settle the remaining liabilities from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in full, which is equivalent to around $5 billion post-tax, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
She held it tightly, making sure not to spill its contents.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
More than 100,000 spills totalling to almost 277,000 hours were recorded last year – an average of about 274 a day.
From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026
There were 1,270 spills, totalling almost 1,500 hours, last year into West Lothian's River Almond, which is nearly 28 miles in length.
From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026
When high tides arrive, water already spills over the seawalls in some spots, reaching nearly 2 feet deep, flooding sidewalks and threatening homes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
The financial and emotional toll of infertility treatments spills over into women’s work lives in ways that can affect their careers and income for years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026
His blond hair spills out from beneath it.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
U.S. stocks were mixed as rate fears resurfaced and tumult at Nvidia spilled into the wider semiconductor sector, dragging down technology indexes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
How much fake blood was spilled by Harlequins?
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026
“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
When the fighting spilled over into the Middle East, cavalry for a time dominated the battlefield.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Sewage is spilt when it is raining to prevent the system becoming overwhelmed and backing up into people's homes.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 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
The visitors have opted for a six-two spilt of forwards and backs among their replacements and promising young back row Henry Pollock could make his Test debut from the bench.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2025
Once the milk is spilt, it's almost impossible to get back into the bottle.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2024
Here and there on the long sloping hillside, milky white splotches stood out like spilt buckets of milk in the deep green.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
He says the public confrontation with senior political figures illustrates how the succession debate was spilling beyond the army and into the ruling party.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026
Now the finger-pointing inside the administration over who’s to blame is spilling into public view.
From Slate ● Nov. 13, 2026
During a Journal visit in September, two state-run gas stations were operating with long lines of cars spilling into the road.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
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
Isobel lifts the hat carefully from the box, the long ends of the ribbons spilling in a waterfall around it.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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