spread
verb (used with object)
to draw, stretch, or open out, especially over a flat surface, as something rolled or folded (often followed byout ).
were spreading
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past progressiveof spread.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Khushal says the initial appeal of some manosphere influencers was the "self-improvement" message they were spreading, at a time he really needed it.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
“We realized we were spreading our efforts across too many apps and stacks, and that we need to simplify our efforts,” Simo shared in an internal note with employees Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Fears of an AI bubble were spreading across Wall Street, wrote Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025
The researchers found that the first fossil evidence of eukaryotes, dating to about 1.05 billion years ago, appeared during a time when continents were dispersing and shallow seas were spreading.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2025
Then I covered the chicken slices with caviar thickly as if I were spreading peanut butter on a piece of bread.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
