1
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
2
: a decorative flat arrangement of flowers and foliage (as on a coffin)
3
: something (such as a jeweled pin) resembling a spray
1
: water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves or thrown up by a waterfall
sprayed; spraying; sprays
1
: to project spray or something resembling spray on or into
spray the table
spraying the wall with bullets
2
: to disperse or apply as a spray
sprayed some perfume
1
: to break up into spray
2
: to disperse or apply a spray
3
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
sprayer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of spray in a Sentence
Verb
She sprayed herself with perfume.
The crops are sprayed monthly.
We were sprayed by water from the crashing waves.
The boys sprayed graffiti on the wall.
He sprayed the paint evenly over the surface.
She sprayed some perfume into the air.
The soda sprayed from the bottle.
The blood sprayed onto the wall.
They sprayed the crowd with bullets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024
Researchers at the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas, tested a spray containing tiny lipophilic micelles (oil/fat particles that can carry substances through water) on aging mice, administering the treatment through their noses.
—Shannon McDonagh, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
So did TikTok’s micellar water hack make my hair less oily?
The best way to try it out for yourself, according to Dr. Shirazi, is with a cotton pad soaked in micellar water instead of the spray bottle method.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 July 2024
At one point, the prosecutors said Cohen watched another rioter douse police officers with a chemical spray.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for spray 
Noun
The spray nozzle has various settings to turn the head or choose the spray pattern.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024
Researchers at the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas, tested a spray containing tiny lipophilic micelles (oil/fat particles that can carry substances through water) on aging mice, administering the treatment through their noses.
—Shannon McDonagh, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
So did TikTok’s micellar water hack make my hair less oily?
The best way to try it out for yourself, according to Dr. Shirazi, is with a cotton pad soaked in micellar water instead of the spray bottle method.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 July 2024
At one point, the prosecutors said Cohen watched another rioter douse police officers with a chemical spray.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for spray
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spray.' 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 spray
Cite this Entry
“Spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spray
1 of 3 noun
: a usually flowering branch or shoot
spray
2 of 3 noun1
: liquid flying in fine drops like water blown from a wave
2
a
: a burst of fine mist (as from an atomizer)
b
: a device (as an atomizer) for scattering a spray
spray
3 of 3 verb1
: to scatter or apply as a spray
2
: to scatter spray on or into
sprayer
noun
Medical Definition
spray
1 of 2 noun
: a jet of vapor or finely divided liquid
specifically
: a jet of fine medicated vapor used as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or deodorant
spray
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to emit a stream or spray of urine
a cat may spray to mark its territory
Legal Definition
spray
transitive verb
: to disperse among a number of recipients
authorized to spray trust income—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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