spawned; spawning; spawns
1
: to deposit or fertilize spawn
2
: to produce young especially in large numbers
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
Synonyms
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
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 July 2024
Spencer contends that numerous issues would wind up in litigation and that the amendment could spawn a legal battle about whether taxpayers should fund abortions through the Medicaid program — something that is now forbidden.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2024
Ben Duchesney, Field & Stream, 3 July 2024
Baker hopes to have the coral spawn in July or August, when Florida coral typically spawn.
—Jenny Staletovich, NPR, 22 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for spawn 
Verb
Its huge success spawned two more films in an iconic trilogy also comprising For a Few Dollars More and The Good the Bad and the Ugly, all starring Eastwood.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 July 2024
Spencer contends that numerous issues would wind up in litigation and that the amendment could spawn a legal battle about whether taxpayers should fund abortions through the Medicaid program — something that is now forbidden.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2024
Noun
The spawn is over, and now is the time when heavy fish start taking up residence in this lush cover.
—Ben Duchesney, Field & Stream, 3 July 2024
Baker hopes to have the coral spawn in July or August, when Florida coral typically spawn.
—Jenny Staletovich, NPR, 22 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for spawn
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spawn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spawn
Cite this Entry
“Spawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spawn. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spawn
1 of 2 verb
ˈspȯn 
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 noun1
: 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
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