Past Tense of Spread
“Spread” follows the pattern spread → spread → spread. The same inflected form serves a finite simple-past clause and a past-participle construction; surrounding grammar identifies the role. The verb is zero-change across base form, simple past, and past participle. Noun senses such as “a spread” are separate.
The simple past and past participle of “spread” are both “spread.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| completed action in simple past | spread | Use “spread.” |
| past participle after have/has/had | spread | Use “spread.” |
| present/base-form context | spread | Use “spread” when a past form is not required. |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Do you need the simple past or past participle of “spread”?
If yes: Use “spread.”
If no: Use “spread” or the appropriate present form when the sentence is not past.
Caveat: Both simple past and past participle are “spread.” The verb is zero-change across base form, simple past, and past participle. Noun senses such as “a spread” are separate.
Examples
The rumor spread quickly after lunch.
“Spread” is the simple past of the verb.
The fire has spread across several fields.
“Spread” is the past participle after “has.”
They spread the maps across the table every morning.
The present-tense verb can also be “spread,” so time and syntax identify the role.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “spread” for both the simple past and the past participle.
Fast Test
If the sentence needs a past form or participle, choose “spread”; use “spread” or the appropriate present form in present-time contexts.
Usage Boundary
Both simple past and past participle are “spread.” The verb is zero-change across base form, simple past, and past participle. Noun senses such as “a spread” are separate.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SPREAD Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records the verb inflection as spread; spreading, supporting spread as the inflected past form.
- SPREAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge explicitly records spread as both the past tense and past participle of spread.