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
Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2024
That’s why this setting spray is a staple beauty product that ensures your makeup lasts for up to 16 hours.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2024
If your child has long hair or hair otherwise prone to tangling, consider using a hydrating detangling spray or gentle leave-in conditioner on their damp hair before combing it out.
—Sarah Bradley, Parents, 20 May 2024
At the base, some 25 were gathered in small groups, many behind a bend sheltering onlookers from the falls’ jet-loud spray.
—Alex Pulaski, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
To avoid spreading disease, keep your outdoor garden shears separate, and if dealing with a plant that has succumbed to pest or disease, use a disinfectant spray between cuts to limit the spread to other plants.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 15 May 2024
Nearly 400 community members learned how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to safely administer the life-saving nasal spray.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024
There are two main types of leave-in conditioner — creams and sprays.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024
The chemical spray was non-greasy and felt light on her skin.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024
Anderson improvised, resorting to a good old-fashioned — and very annoying — spray with a water hose.
—Mark Price, Sacramento Bee, 23 May 2024
Windshield washer fluid was spraying and all types of warning lights began lighting up.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024
Image Image Image Her death still seems unreal to the family — the health workers in hazmat suits, spraying disinfectant; the lonely cremation, all because of virus that belongs in birds.
—Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024
Peach: The peach-and-orange-blossom combo is light enough to spray all over.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 19 May 2024
Form Gluten-free supplements come in various forms, including capsule, tablet, soft gel, liquid, chewable, gummy, powder, and spray form.
—Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
Place the ribs meat-side-up in the smoker, or on the grill over the indirect heat, and cook 2 hours, spraying the spare ribs with apple juice every 30 minutes to moisten.
—Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2024
Minutes later, the soldiers sprayed the men with bullets.
—Christiaan Triebert, New York Times, 11 May 2024
Noun
Most sanitizing and disinfectant sprays have specific instructions to follow in order for the solution to actually work.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2024
That’s why this setting spray is a staple beauty product that ensures your makeup lasts for up to 16 hours.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2024
If your child has long hair or hair otherwise prone to tangling, consider using a hydrating detangling spray or gentle leave-in conditioner on their damp hair before combing it out.
—Sarah Bradley, Parents, 20 May 2024
At the base, some 25 were gathered in small groups, many behind a bend sheltering onlookers from the falls’ jet-loud spray.
—Alex Pulaski, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
To avoid spreading disease, keep your outdoor garden shears separate, and if dealing with a plant that has succumbed to pest or disease, use a disinfectant spray between cuts to limit the spread to other plants.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 15 May 2024
Nearly 400 community members learned how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to safely administer the life-saving nasal spray.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024
There are two main types of leave-in conditioner — creams and sprays.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024
The chemical spray was non-greasy and felt light on her skin.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Verb
Santa Clara County officials will spray an East San Jose neighborhood with a bacterial spray next week in their latest attempt to eradicate an invasive species of mosquito found last month.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024
Anderson improvised, resorting to a good old-fashioned — and very annoying — spray with a water hose.
—Mark Price, Sacramento Bee, 23 May 2024
Windshield washer fluid was spraying and all types of warning lights began lighting up.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024
Image Image Image Her death still seems unreal to the family — the health workers in hazmat suits, spraying disinfectant; the lonely cremation, all because of virus that belongs in birds.
—Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024
Peach: The peach-and-orange-blossom combo is light enough to spray all over.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 19 May 2024
Form Gluten-free supplements come in various forms, including capsule, tablet, soft gel, liquid, chewable, gummy, powder, and spray form.
—Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
Place the ribs meat-side-up in the smoker, or on the grill over the indirect heat, and cook 2 hours, spraying the spare ribs with apple juice every 30 minutes to moisten.
—Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2024
Minutes later, the soldiers sprayed the men with bullets.
—Christiaan Triebert, New York Times, 11 May 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 28 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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