space

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: a period of time
also : its duration
2
a
: a limited extent in one, two, or three dimensions : distance, area, volume
b
: an extent set apart or available
parking space
floor space
c
: the distance from other people or things that a person needs in order to remain comfortable
invading my personal space
3
: one of the degrees between or above or below the lines of a musical staff compare line
4
a
: a boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction
infinite space and time
b
: physical space independent of what occupies it

called also absolute space

5
: the region beyond the earth's atmosphere or beyond the solar system
6
a
: a blank area separating words or lines
b
: material used to produce such blank area
especially : a piece of type less than one en in width
7
: a set of mathematical elements and especially of abstractions of all the points on a line, in a plane, or in physical space
especially : a set of mathematical entities with a set of axioms of geometric character compare metric space, topological space, vector space
8
a
: linage
b
: broadcast time available especially to advertisers
9
: accommodations on a public vehicle
10
a
: the opportunity to assert or experience one's identity or needs freely
b
: an opportunity for privacy or time to oneself

space

2 of 2

verb

spaced; spacing

transitive verb

: to place at intervals or arrange with space between
Evenly space 16 tablespoons of shredded cheese on the baking sheet …The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
often used with out
Space out the work you plan to do … Don't try to crowd too much into each day.Darlene Polachic

intransitive verb

1
: to leave one or more blank spaces (as in a line of typing)
2
informal : to fail to remember something : forget
… I totally forgot to write last week. I had planned to do it, I had it all figured out, and I spaced.Steve "Nookie" Postal
often used with on
If your mom doesn't live close by, or if you totally spaced on getting her a Mother's Day gift this year, then flowers or chocolates are a great, last-minute gift idea that are sure to brighten her day.Leah Stodart
see also space out

Examples of space in a Sentence

Noun There's still some space for a bookshelf. the space behind the couch Is there space in the cabinet for these dishes? There's not much empty space. He moved the books to create more space on his desk. Those old boxes take up a lot of space. The magazine devotes a lot of space to advertising. She has a space between her front teeth. There isn't much space between our houses. the wide open spaces of the western U.S. Verb Space the seedlings about six inches apart. He spaces his albums so that he puts one out every two to three years. They spaced the births of their three children two years apart.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Among the more notable features are a finished and windowed basement, a garage with a studio apartment above it, and not just one but two private outdoor spaces. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 The architects placed the windows strategically to maintain privacy between the two homes and maximized the ceiling height to help open up the space. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 This will now be the third Venom film to hit theaters in October, and the pre-Halloween space has worked out nicely for the franchise. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 The museum's latest board report includes details on maintenance issues, such as foundation damage, icing on interior windows, and a corroded floor drain which led to leaking that damaged a painting stored in basement collection space. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The cafe portion of the business is in a distinct, adjacent space to the seating area. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The partnership is supported by Spotify’s Creator Equity Fund as the latest part of its ongoing commitment to fostering equity in the audio space. Thania Garcia, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 Makeup, skincare, clothes, fragrance: Kylie Jenner has dipped her toes in almost every category in the style space. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Game Variety: Online casinos can have hundreds or even thousands of games, thanks to the lack of physical space requirements. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
The rows were spaced approximately 50m to 100m apart and along the rows the collar spacings were 70m to 150m. There were four near vertical drill holes and three drill holes with azimuth perpendicular to the pattern that were made to test that there is no drill pattern bias in the results. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024 Roses should be properly spaced, pruned annually to open them to air and sunlight, and fertilized and watered adequately and appropriately. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 That lineup construction has a good blend of spacing, playmaking and outside shooting. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Hundreds of similar mini-ringworlds were spaced around the rim of Paradise. Karl Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 2024 Or Clayton County, Ga., just outside Atlanta, where the state has identified crash hotspots where crosswalks are hard to find, spaced a half-mile apart. USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 However, spacing them apart by taking calcium with a meal and taking magnesium at night is a way to ensure the supplements don’t interact. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2024 Again, most people will need six treatments spaced one week apart. Ahmed Zambarakji, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2024 Ware’s athleticism, shot blocking, and floor spacing intrigue NBA teams for his size, while his inconsistent motor and toughness have been questioned the most. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'space.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French espace, space, from Latin spatium area, room, interval of space or time

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of space was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near space

Cite this Entry

“Space.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/space. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

space

1 of 2 noun
1
: a period of time
2
a
: a limited extent in one, two, or three dimensions : distance, area, volume
b
: an area set apart or available
parking space
floor space
3
: the limitless three-dimensional extent in which all things exist and move
4
: the region beyond the earth's atmosphere
5
: a blank area separating words or lines
6
: an available seat on a public vehicle

space

2 of 2 verb
spaced; spacing
: to place with space between
space out the chairs one foot apart

Medical Definition

space

noun
1
: a period of time
also : its duration
2
: a limited extent in one, two, or three dimensions
3
: a particular area or cavity within the body

More from Merriam-Webster on space

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