spate

noun

1
2
a
: a large number or amount
a spate of books on gardening
b
: a sudden or strong outburst : rush
a spate of anger

Examples of spate in a Sentence

A spate of books on the subject have come out recently. There was a spate of corporate mergers in the 1980s.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The famously intense actor found relief in his latest film, after a spate of heavy roles. David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025 The heist has fueled questions about the security of major cultural sites, after a spate of similar robberies. Jamie Gray, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025 Monday’s spate of positive news just reiterates why shares have more room to run and why Jim always says own Apple stock, don’t trade it. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025 Further complicating the financial picture for Brightline is the spate of negative news stories about Las Vegas. Marc Joffe, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

spate

noun
: a sudden flood or rush

More from Merriam-Webster on spate

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