as in to measure
to find out the size, extent, or amount of
tried to span the distance between the two trees by eye alone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of span
Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 27 June 2025
The Astros used their first-round picks on outfielder George Springer, shortstop Carlos Correa, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Kyle Tucker over a five-year span.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
This multigenerational gothic horror spans the entire 20th century, tracing three women’s differing interactions with witchcraft.
—Natalie Zutter
june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for span
Verb
By selling off Trent Frederic, Justin Brazeau, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and Brad Marchand in a four-day span in March, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney made a decision that no exec ever hopes to make.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 27 June 2025
The Astros used their first-round picks on outfielder George Springer, shortstop Carlos Correa, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Kyle Tucker over a five-year span.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Noun
These collaborations have yielded groundbreaking products and services, fueling continuous innovation across the beauty tech landscape — spanning AI, biotechnology and smart devices — solidifying L’Oréal’s leadership at the forefront of technological advancement.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
This multigenerational gothic horror spans the entire 20th century, tracing three women’s differing interactions with witchcraft.
—Natalie Zutter
june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for span
Recent Examples of Synonyms for span
Verb
-
What to know about earthquakes Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2025
-
Don’t measure your progress by job titles or years in one role.—
Minh Pham-Costello,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
The pair spent much of the next three days together, joking around.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
27 June 2025
-
There are no pairs of tidily poetic contradictions, but a morass of inner conflict, uncertainty, pain, and relief.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Orlando, however, still had the opportunity to find roster help Wednesday night during the first round, even if the franchise was making its pick later in the evening than in years past.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
-
Castle, selected fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs last year, and Andre Drummond, picked ninth by the Detroit Pistons in 2012, are the program’s only other one-and-dones.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
The Islanders explored a potential extension with Dobson before starting to gauge the market on the 25-year-old right-shot defenseman, who is in line for a big raise on the $4 million cap hit his previous contract carried.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
-
My aim was to gauge the region’s life-in-the-slow-lane appeal, road-tripping between Baraboo in the east, La Crosse in the west, and Mineral Point in the south.—
Elaine Glusac,
AFAR Media,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
But a Russian drone attack on the city of Odesa hit a high-rise building, killing a married couple and injuring at least 14 other people, according to local authorities.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
-
The former couple settled the suit for $20 million a day later, but dozens of lawsuits from other people claiming similar misdeeds soon followed.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Give emerging brands the ability to prove themselves in the digital world before asking them to fight for a few inches of shelf space.—
Joe Chura,
Rolling Stone,
25 June 2025
-
Vegetation is cleaned up to reduce potential wildfire fuel and create defensible space around park structures, trails and areas close to homes.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Since businesses either shut down or scaled back drastically, job losses followed quickly.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
While originally set to create upwards of 2,500 jobs once operational and bring a $3.5 billion dollar investment from Ford, the project has since been scaled back.—
Elyse Apel,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Column and barrel jeans are part of the collection as well as minimalist women’s shirts, like the Club Shirt with subtle western yoke details, and a denim work shirt.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
2 May 2025
-
The steering wheel transforms into a flight yoke, and extra pedals appear for rudder control.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Span.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/span. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share