spun

Definition of spunnext
past tense of spin
1
2
as in swam
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my head spun as I contemplated all the possible problems this restructuring could cause

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in twirled
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis spun the child around until he was hopelessly dizzy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spun Lionsgate has spun it into a franchise, including a Vegas escape room experience. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026 Expecting dull days and strict rules, the boy instead stumbles into a world of delightful chaos and imagination – where outrageous stories are spun, and a world of wonder, memory and mischief unfolds. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026 Weisberger’s book may have been an opportunistic takedown, but the director David Frankel and the screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna spun it into one of the finer Hollywood entertainments of its era, with the pleasing sophistication and bitchery of a classic studio comedy from the forties or fifties. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026 Tourists approached, one by one, then spun around confused and disappointed. Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026 Michael King spun six innings of two-run ball. Dennis Lin, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 In the match between Francisco Cerundolo and Luciano Darderi, Cerundolo won a point after reaching over the net to get to a high return that spun back into Darderi's side of the court. ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 Fallout is based on a video game, but the story that Robertson-Dworet and the creative team have spun up for the television series is original, which gives them the opportunity to build most of these characters from the ground up alongside the actors who play them. Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026 At the time, many observers, including former board members, wondered whether the company should be broken apart, with its manufacturing facilities sold or spun into a separate business. Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spun
Verb
  • The 5,100square-foot museum, designed in the shape of a wave, maintains a collection of vintage and signature surfboards that are rotated between displays.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • New exhibits have rotated through the two remaining buildings, the Resnick Pavilion and BCAM.
    David Allen, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Jerry swam strongly for three or four minutes, then rolled over on his back and floated.
    Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Images taken a day earlier showed divers alongside Timmy as the humpback whale swam into the barge.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Penguins darted beneath us, marine iguanas grazed on algae, and sea lions twirled playfully in the water.
    David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Keith twirled the edges in his fingers and flipped the long part back and forth over his shoulder.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Leonard Cohen had a house there, one of 100 in the world that revolved on a motor.
    Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
  • This year, Rolex is celebrating 100 years of the Oyster, the watch—or watch case, to be more precise—that quietly remains the hub around which the brand’s line-up has revolved for a full century.
    Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Only problem was, teammate Trevor Zegras whirled the rookie around by the neck, and the rest of the Flyers mobbed the ice and pinned Martone against the boards in a wild celebration worthy of a playoff victory.
    CBS News, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.
    Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Knueppel, who was a one-and-done at Duke just like Flagg but turned 20 before his NBA career started, became the first rookie to lead the league in 3-pointers with 273.
    Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Butajevas, who turned 19 on March 27, arrives to coach Todd Golden’s team with a prototypical European skill set at nearly 6-foot-10.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Chevron's refiners swung to a loss of $817 million compared with a profit of $325 million in last year's quarter, due to the lower margins, the timing effects on financial hedges and higher transportation costs.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 May 2026
  • Raschi threw, Miñoso swung and the ball took off to straightaway center, disappearing over the old bullpen fence, 415 feet away.
    Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • But then the day before the NCAA 5,000 heats, Chapa twisted his ankle.
    Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Now his bruised body was twisted, lying on the floor with his head against the bed frame.
    Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spun. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on spun

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster