1
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
2
: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)
3
: something (such as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray
1
: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
sprayed; spraying; sprays
1
: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into
spray the table
spraying the wall with bullets
2
: to disperse or apply as a spray
sprayed some perfume
1
: to break up into spray
2
: to disperse or apply a spray
3
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
sprayer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of spray in a Sentence
Verb
She sprayed herself with perfume.
The crops are sprayed monthly.
We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves.
The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall.
He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface.
She sprayed some perfume into the air.
The soda sprayed from the bottle.
The blood sprayed onto the wall.
They sprayed the crowd with bullets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
While these protests have been largely peaceful, there have been incidents of violence involving counter-protesters, such as those at UCLA who assaulted pro-Palestinian students with chemical spray and wooden planks on April 30.
—TIME, 10 May 2024
Dahl said that nasal saline gels or sprays like Xylitol can be moisturizing.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 8 May 2024
To use it, attach your favorite spray nozzle to one of the anodized aluminum ends, and then twist the other onto your outdoor faucet.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
The most universal is this excellent texturizing spray, a perfect way to add volume, fullness, and definition to a variety of hair types and styles.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
Send any news, comments, monster spray, and dodecahedrons to talk@qz.com.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 1 May 2024
And with a deceptively light touch, Mr. Camara throws his opponent to the ground, a spray of golden dust flying upwards.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2024
Do not follow large vehicles closely — Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024
Christiaan Triebert, New York Times, 11 May 2024
Organic farmers had to regularly and preemptively spray with copper sulfate, though biodynamic Château Fonplégade reports good results with an oak bark solution.
—Elin McCoy, Fortune Europe, 11 May 2024
Once buds open, simply spray with hairspray to keep them from falling from the branch.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 9 May 2024
The blaze erupted after a diesel motor for a generator caught fire, igniting spray foam insulation and wood-framing on the multi-story building.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2024
Don’t use a container that was previously used to spray Roundup.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
Place a piece of parchment paper on the surface of the skillet, and spray it as well.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2024
The United States initially responded by spraying herbicides from planes in Guatemala, but suspended those efforts after flight crews came under concentrated gunfire.
—Simon Romero Daniele Volpe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
After waving my hair with a 1-inch curling wand, Toth sprayed my strands (from the top, aiming downward) with the Shu Uemura Moya Hold Finishing Hair Spray to keep them smooth.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 26 Apr. 2024
Noun
Shah said she was targeted with bear spray while others were punched in the face.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
While these protests have been largely peaceful, there have been incidents of violence involving counter-protesters, such as those at UCLA who assaulted pro-Palestinian students with chemical spray and wooden planks on April 30.
—TIME, 10 May 2024
Dahl said that nasal saline gels or sprays like Xylitol can be moisturizing.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 8 May 2024
To use it, attach your favorite spray nozzle to one of the anodized aluminum ends, and then twist the other onto your outdoor faucet.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
The most universal is this excellent texturizing spray, a perfect way to add volume, fullness, and definition to a variety of hair types and styles.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
Send any news, comments, monster spray, and dodecahedrons to talk@qz.com.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 1 May 2024
And with a deceptively light touch, Mr. Camara throws his opponent to the ground, a spray of golden dust flying upwards.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2024
Do not follow large vehicles closely — Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2024
Verb
Minutes later, the soldiers sprayed the men with bullets.
—Christiaan Triebert, New York Times, 11 May 2024
Organic farmers had to regularly and preemptively spray with copper sulfate, though biodynamic Château Fonplégade reports good results with an oak bark solution.
—Elin McCoy, Fortune Europe, 11 May 2024
Once buds open, simply spray with hairspray to keep them from falling from the branch.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 9 May 2024
The blaze erupted after a diesel motor for a generator caught fire, igniting spray foam insulation and wood-framing on the multi-story building.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2024
Don’t use a container that was previously used to spray Roundup.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
Place a piece of parchment paper on the surface of the skillet, and spray it as well.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2024
The United States initially responded by spraying herbicides from planes in Guatemala, but suspended those efforts after flight crews came under concentrated gunfire.
—Simon Romero Daniele Volpe, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2024
After waving my hair with a 1-inch curling wand, Toth sprayed my strands (from the top, aiming downward) with the Shu Uemura Moya Hold Finishing Hair Spray to keep them smooth.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 26 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spray
Cite this Entry
“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spray
1 of 3 noun
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
spray
2 of 3 noun1
: liquid flying in fine drops like water blown from a wave
2
a
: a burst of fine mist (as from an atomizer)
b
: a device (as an atomizer) for scattering a spray
spray
3 of 3 verb1
: to scatter or apply as a spray
2
: to scatter spray on or into
sprayer
noun
Medical Definition
spray
1 of 2 noun
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
specifically
: a jet of fine medicated vapor used as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or deodorant
spray
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
Legal Definition
spray
transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients
authorized to spray trust income—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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