1
: to cause or allow especially accidentally or unintentionally to fall, flow, or run out so as to be lost or wasted
3
: to let out : divulge
spill a secret
4
a
: to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl it
b
: to relieve the pressure of (wind) on a sail by coming about or by adjusting the sail with lines
5
: to throw off or out
a horse spilled him
1
a
: to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost
water spilling over the dam
b
: to cause or allow something to spill
2
: to spread profusely or beyond bounds
crowds spilled into the streets
3
: to fall from one's place (as on a horse)
spiller
noun
1
: a wooden splinter
2
: a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire
Examples of spill in a Sentence
Verb
I accidentally spilled coffee all over my new suit.
Clean up the flour you spilled on the floor.
a puddle of spilled water
Water spilled over the dam.
She opened the door and light spilled into the room.
an interviewer who gets celebrities to spill their secrets
Come on, spill it. Who gave you the money?
Noun (1)
she tripped over the toy and had a nasty spill on the stairs
Recent Examples on the Web
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
But in stoppage time, Miami was gifted a third goal when Jordi Alba crossed from the left and keeper Willis, colliding with defender Walker Zimmerman, spilled the ball right to Messi, who had the simplest of tap-ins.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Glam was kept bronzed, with oil-spill black talon nails changed to a sheer satiny pink, and her hair slicked back in a tight bun, extra-long, teeny, tiny braids let down later.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spill
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
But city officials have acknowledged of late that the drug use and crime has since spilled over into nearby neighborhoods, particularly the South End, which has been deemed a hot-spot area by the city and targeted for greater police enforcement.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
But in stoppage time, Miami was gifted a third goal when Jordi Alba crossed from the left and keeper Willis, colliding with defender Walker Zimmerman, spilled the ball right to Messi, who had the simplest of tap-ins.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
Wipe down the granite countertops, focusing on areas with spills or stains, rubbing in circular motions.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Glam was kept bronzed, with oil-spill black talon nails changed to a sheer satiny pink, and her hair slicked back in a tight bun, extra-long, teeny, tiny braids let down later.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spill
Cite this Entry
“Spill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spill. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spill
1 of 2 verb1
: to cause (blood) to flow by wounding or killing
2
a
: to cause or allow to fall, flow, or run out by accident
spilled some flour on the floor
b
: to fall or run out so as to be lost or wasted
the milk spilled
c
: to spread beyond limits
crowds spilled into the streets
3
: to throw off or out
a horse spilled its rider
4
: to let out : give away
spilled the secret
spiller
noun
spill
2 of 2 noun1
a
: an act or instance of spilling
b
: a fall from a horse or vehicle
2
: something spilled
cleaning up an oil spill
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