1
: a taint on character or reputation : fault
the only spot on the family name
2
a
: a small area visibly different (as in color, finish, or material) from the surrounding area
b(1)
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
(2)
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (such as measles) or decay
spots of rot
rust spots on a leaf
c
: a conventionalized design used on playing cards to distinguish the suits and indicate values
3
: an object having a specified number of spots or a specified numeral on its surface
4
: a small quantity or amount : bit
5
a
: a particular place, area, or part
b
: a small extent of space
6
plural usually spot
: a small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast with a black spot behind the opercula
7
a
: a particular position (as in an organization or a hierarchy)
b
: a place or appearance on an entertainment program
8
9
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
10
: a brief announcement or advertisement broadcast between scheduled radio or television programs
11
: a brief segment or report on a broadcast especially of news
spotted; spotting
1
: to stain the character or reputation of : disgrace
2
: to mark in or with a spot : stain
The snow was spotted with blood.
His pants were spotted with mud.
3
: to locate or identify by a spot
4
a
: to single out : identify
especially
: to note as a known criminal or a suspicious person
c(1)
: to locate accurately
spot an enemy position
(2)
: to cause to strike accurately
spot the battery's fire
d
: to watch or assist (someone) during athletic competition or exercise (as for gymnastics or weight lifting) especially to prevent injury
She's the darling of the weight room wherever she works out, spotting guys twice her size.—
Rick Reilly
Rick Reilly5
a
: to lie at intervals in or over : stud
small boats spotting the harbor
b
: to place at intervals or in a desired spot
spot field telephones
c
: to fix in or as if in the beam of a spotlight
d
: to schedule in a particular spot or at a particular time
spotted the main act at 9 p.m.
e
football
: to put (the football) at the appropriate place on the field in preparation for the next play
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
6
: to remove a spot from
7
a
: to give a specified advantage to (an opponent) : to allow as a handicap (see handicap entry 1 sense 1b)
She spotted me five points and still beat me easily.
spot him two strokes a hole in golf
b
informal
: to lend (someone) a usually small amount of money
Can you spot me five bucks?
1
: to become stained or discolored in spots
Fungus caused the leaves to spot.
2
: to cause a spot
a detergent that always spots
3
: to act as a spotter
especially
: to locate targets
4
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
1
a
: being, originating, or done on the spot or in or for a particular spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: available for immediate delivery after sale
spot commodities
c(1)
: paid out upon delivery
spot cash
(2)
: involving immediate cash payment
a spot transaction
d(1)
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
(2)
: originating in a local station for a national advertiser
e
: performing occasionally when needed
a spot starter
2
: made at random or restricted to a few places or instances
a spot check
also
: selected at random or as a sample
Synonyms
Examples of spot in a Sentence
Noun
The wood still has some rough spots.
The chair's original paint is still visible in spots.
He fell through a weak spot in the ice.
The tablecloth had a couple of spots.
There were mud spots on the back of his pants.
rust spots on the metal
I noticed some red spots on my arms.
spots of rot on the leaf
a teenager with spots on his face
This looks like a good spot for a picnic.
Verb
She spotted a deer in the woods.
The band's lead singer was recently spotted with a well-known actress.
They spotted us five points, and we still lost.
I'm a little short of cash. Can you spot me five bucks?
The official spotted the ball at the 10-yard line.
Adjective
the difference between futures and spot commodities
the spot price of wheat
Recent Examples on the Web
Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Grab a Local Favorite for Lunch For lunch, there’s no more beloved spot than Beaufort Grocery, a local establishment that’s been peddling picnic-ready sandwiches and fresh seafood since 1991.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2024
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Some of the drones, or multiple sightings of the same drone, have been spotted over military installations and other sensitive sites such as President-elect Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024
Bob Pisani, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Mr. Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it.
—The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spot 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Injuries have so thoroughly depleted the Niners (6-9) that 3-of-5 spots could feature linemen making their 49ers’ starting debuts.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Grab a Local Favorite for Lunch For lunch, there’s no more beloved spot than Beaufort Grocery, a local establishment that’s been peddling picnic-ready sandwiches and fresh seafood since 1991.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
The podcast host took to X to share his thoughts on the drones, which have been spotted in recent weeks and triggered an FBI investigation.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Some of the drones, or multiple sightings of the same drone, have been spotted over military installations and other sensitive sites such as President-elect Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
With spot bitcoin ETFs now accounting for more than $100 billion in assets, bitcoin is now about 1% of the assets under management of the entire ETF universe.
—Bob Pisani, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Mr. Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it.
—The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spot
Dictionary Entries Near spot
Cite this Entry
“Spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spot. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spot
1 of 3 noun1
: something bad that others know about one : fault
2
a
: a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part
b
: an area marred or marked (as by dirt)
c
: a small diseased or decayed area on the body surface of a plant or animal
spots of rot on a leaf
spots of chicken pox
3
a
: a small quantity or amount
b
: a particular place
a good spot for a picnic
a sore spot
4
: a particular position (as in an organization or on a program)
6
: a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment
put someone in a spot
7
: a short broadcast announcement or advertisement
spot
2 of 3 verb
spotted; spotting
1
: to mark or become marked with or as if with spots
2
: to single out : identify
spot a friend in a crowd
spot
3 of 3 adjective1
a
: done on the spot
spot coverage of the news
b
: paid upon delivery
spot cash
c
: involving immediate cash payment
the spot market for oil
d
: broadcast between scheduled programs
spot announcements
2
: made from time to time or in a few places or instances
a spot check
Medical Definition
spot
1 of 2 noun
: a circumscribed mark or area: as
a
: a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (as measles)
b
: a circumscribed abnormality in an organ seen by means of X-rays or an instrument
X-rays revealed a spot on the lung
spot
2 of 2 intransitive verb
spotted; spotting
: to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus
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