spawn

1 of 2

verb

ˈspȯn How to pronounce spawn (audio)
ˈspän
spawned; spawning; spawns

intransitive verb

1
: to deposit or fertilize spawn
2
: to produce young especially in large numbers

transitive verb

1
a
: to produce or deposit (eggs)
used of an aquatic animal
b
: to induce (fish) to spawn
c
: to plant with mushroom spawn
2
: bring forth, generate
the idea spawned controversy
spawner noun

spawn

2 of 2

noun

1
: the eggs of aquatic animals (such as fishes or oysters) that lay many small eggs
2
: product, offspring
also : offspring in great numbers
3
: the seed, germ, or source of something
4
: mycelium especially prepared (as in bricks) for propagating mushrooms

Examples of spawn in a Sentence

Verb The health-food craze spawned a multimillion-dollar industry. the incident that spawned a generation of student protests a TV show that spawned a host of imitations Noun Pacific salmon return to Alaskan streams to deposit their spawn. sometimes I think those little brats are the spawn of Satan himself
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.
Verb
The character helped spawn a Prime Video series adaptation last year, which became the number one title globally on the streamer during its first 20 days, per Skydance. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Partnerships like this splashy high-end drama tie-up between the BBC and ZDF, which has already spawned a new show from the team behind Killing Eve, will help. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
On the ice Typically, Peterson says, tip-up fishing gets better as temperatures rise and days grow longer, triggering the instinct for pike to stage near the mouths of streams and shallow bays to spawn. Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025 Like sturgeon, these are anadromous fish that are born in the river, go out to sea, and return to the river to spawn. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spawn

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French espandre to spread out, shed, scatter, spawn, from Latin expandere to expand

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spawn. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

spawn

1 of 2 verb
ˈspȯn How to pronounce spawn (audio)
ˈspän
1
: to deposit or fertilize eggs
fish swimming upstream to spawn
2
: to produce young especially in large numbers
3
spawner noun

spawn

2 of 2 noun
1
: the eggs of aquatic animals (as fishes or oysters) that lay many small eggs
2
: product sense 2, offspring
also : something produced in large quantities

More from Merriam-Webster on spawn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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