spit

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a slender pointed rod for holding meat over a fire
2
: a small point of land especially of sand or gravel running into a body of water

spit

2 of 4

verb (1)

spitted; spitting

transitive verb

: to fix on or as if on a spit : impale

spit

3 of 4

verb (2)

spit or spat ˈspat How to pronounce spit (audio) ; spitting

transitive verb

1
a
: to eject (something) from the mouth : expectorate
b(1)
: to express (unpleasant or malicious feelings) by or as if by spitting
(2)
: to utter with a spitting sound or scornful expression
spat out his words
c
: to emit as if by spitting
especially : to emit (precipitation) in driving particles or in flurries
spit rain
2
: to set to burning
spit a fuse

intransitive verb

1
a(1)
: to eject saliva as an expression of aversion or contempt
(2)
: to exhibit contempt
b
: to eject matter (such as saliva) from the mouth : expectorate
2
: to rain or snow slightly or in flurries
3
: to make a noise suggesting expectoration : sputter

spit

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
a(1)
(2)
: the act or an instance of spitting
b(1)
: a frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs
(2)
2
: perfect likeness
3
: a sprinkle of rain or flurry of snow
Phrases
spit it out
: to say what is in the mind without further delay

Examples of spit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Factories spit out shells, mortar rounds, military vehicles, missiles and other items crucial to the war effort. David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The song came accompanied by a music video directed by Patience Harding that sees Cardi spitting the song’s punchy lines while sporting a series of looks. Thania Garcia, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 And now everyone else on the other side of the house is getting chewed up and spit out. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 Cracking open the entire egg and pulling out the duck meat, Cardi immediately took a bite — before spitting it out and running out of frame. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Rosanne Barr screeched her way through the song ahead of a game between the lowly San Diego Padres and the soon to be World Series champion Cincinatti Reds, ending the performance by spitting and grabbing her crotch. James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 If Starr licensed her image and voice, the company could build a Jenna-bot that spits out custom photos, voice notes and messages on demand. Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 The biggest laugh in this scene comes from Mary’s heel turn after scolding Angus for cursing and then immediately spitting out her own colorful language when talking to Paul. Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024 The fleet of 30 diesel buses was outdated and spitting out high levels of toxic pollution. Hannah Poukish, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
On Kingman Island, a 40-acre spit of land in the Anacostia River, environmental protection specialist Lee Cain stands in front of a pile of wooden debris. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Book the private loungers in the tiny spit below the basement, which sit on their own cove, and don’t leave without trying the spaghettoni al pomodoro, tomato pasta perfection. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Barr told the Washington Post that the crotch grab and spit were a mocking of habits of baseball players. James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors also allege Redden spit on a law enforcement officer during the courtroom violence. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024 The wine with lunch tasting model is a familiar setting in Europe, where multi-course lunches cooked by vintner themselves offer guests more than a swirl and a spit. Joe Sills, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 There are no national reporting requirements on deaths involving spit hoods. Daphne Duret, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Its little Lower Town hides on the seaward side of the giant rock, tethered to the mainland only by a skinny spit of land that functions as a causeway. Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024 Most backlash associated with this look tends to be a response to the architectural sameness—particularly when perfectly pretty old homes are remodeled or torn down in the name of strikingly similar side-to-sides that feel spit out of a conveyor belt. Rachel Barrett, Country Living, 5 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English spitu; akin to Old High German spiz spit, spizzi pointed

Verb (2)

Middle English spitten, from Old English spittan; akin to Middle High German spiutzen to spit

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of spit was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near spit

Cite this Entry

“Spit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spit. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spit

1 of 3 noun
1
: a thin pointed rod for holding meat over a fire
2
: a small point of land that runs out into a body of water

spit

2 of 3 verb
spit or spat
ˈspat
; spitting
1
a
: to cause (as saliva) to spurt from the mouth : expectorate
b
: to express by or as if by spitting : make a spitting sound
2
a
: to give off briskly : emit
b
: to rain lightly or snow in flurries
spitter noun

spit

3 of 3 noun
1
a
: saliva
b
: the act of spitting
2
: a foamy secretion produced by spittlebugs
3
: perfect likeness
the spit and image of her father
Etymology

Noun

Old English spitu "a long rod for holding meat over a fire to cook"

Verb

Old English spittan "to spit (saliva) from the mouth"

Medical Definition

spit

1 of 2 verb
spit or spat ˈspat How to pronounce spit (audio) ; spitting

transitive verb

: to eject (as saliva) from the mouth

intransitive verb

: to eject saliva from the mouth

spit

2 of 2 noun
: saliva

More from Merriam-Webster on spit

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