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
-
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.
Technology company Meta removed several Vietnam-based pages from Facebook after a BBC Wales investigation found they were spreading fake news.
From BBC ● Mar. 9, 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
By August, whispers were spreading in the lender community, including that investing giant Apollo Global Management had bet against First Brands through a so-called credit-default swap trade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025
The morning sun was hot; three men were spreading palm fronds on the tarmac, working swiftly and sweating, pushing along large carts piled with fronds.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
