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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of span
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
The notices spanned a cross-section of higher education institutions: Ivy League institutions like Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton as well as state universities in California, Florida, Ohio, and New York.
—Helen Coster and Julia Harte, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
The span is also significant for predating the Frist Art Museum which wasn’t founded until 2001.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for span
Verb
While answers spanned the globe, Asian and Northeastern, Eastern, and Central European cities tended to rise to the top.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
The notices spanned a cross-section of higher education institutions: Ivy League institutions like Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton as well as state universities in California, Florida, Ohio, and New York.
—Helen Coster and Julia Harte, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
The Saints led the NFL in offensive efficiency across the 2017 and 2018 seasons, scoring a league-best 2.66 points per drive in that span.
—Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
The span is also significant for predating the Frist Art Museum which wasn’t founded until 2001.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for span
Recent Examples of Synonyms for span
Verb
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The Dodgers’ roster continues to be a stress test and a measuring stick.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Even so, those figures represent a sharp recovery from early January, when statewide snowpack measured just 2.7 inches — only 10% of the April 1 average and 28% of normal for that date.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The pair communicated mostly through text messages, according to the report.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
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One summer dinner date led to many more, and the pair fell in love over the next year.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In recent years, Foreman had been involved with numerous documentary projects about his life, boxing and the era of his greatest fame.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2025
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In more recent years, comedy has come under fire for being insensitive and inciting scandals.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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One area of focus is a protein called AMPK which, among other things, gauges the amount of energy available to the cell and helps to conserve and free up energy when necessary.—
Tim Vernimmen,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
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Businesses can gauge interest and move potential clients through the sales funnel by tracking how prospects interact with content, webinars or email campaigns over time.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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While half of the videos generated appeared to depict an interracial couple, the other half featured two people who appeared Black.—
Reece Rogers,
WIRED,
23 Mar. 2025
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While waiting on a nice British couple, Alex accidentally inserts herself into their political conversation.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Designed to be a lush, year-round oasis, this innovative space combines design elements inspired by Portland’s urban charm and tropical island retreats, bringing a slice of paradise to the city during the (in)famous Pacific Northwest rainy season.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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Give them space to take risks while aligning their work with significant objectives.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Domestic Tension is shown as a room reproduced to scale, and though the museum shot far fewer than 65,000 paintballs at its walls, the presence of their yellow residue is chilling.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The trip was scaled back after pushback from Greenlandic and Danish officials.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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That’s a world in which Democrats might be able to actually pare back the GOP majority to 51 and embolden Republican senators who are already chafing under the MAGA yoke.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
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Were Cuba to throw off the yoke of dictatorship, some Cuban Americans would return to the island — or go there for the first time.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Span.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/span. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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