spread out
To open up and cover a lot of space, or to lay things out so they're not all in one pile
Meanings
To open something flat over a surface, or to arrange things across a wider area
"She spread her notes out on the desk so she could see everything at once."
Of people or things, to move or be positioned across a large area
"The hikers spread out along the trail so they could each enjoy the view."
Of a city, building, or landscape, to extend over a wide geographical area
"From the hilltop, the city spread out before us in every direction."
Extremely common and versatile. Used for people moving apart to cover space, objects being laid out, cities expanding, and ideas being distributed. Also used as an adjective: 'a spread-out city.' The separable transitive use is very natural: 'spread the map out on the table.'
Commonly used with
Forms
Understand "spread out" better
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "spread out" on Looplines