WordGarden.iospate
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /spˈeɪt/
US
- /ˈspeɪt/
Meanings
Noun
a sudden large number of similar things happening in a short time
a sudden flood or rush of water caused by heavy rain
Beyond the definition
Imagine a normally gentle stream suddenly swelling with rainwater after a heavy storm: that's a spate. The word describes a sudden, large increase in something, most often water, but it also applies to things like activity, complaints, or crimes. A town might see a spate of robberies after a big festival, or a team might enjoy a spate of wins. The word suggests something intense that comes quickly and does not last long.
The word has long been linked to rushing water, especially in British usage. That image still shapes how it feels today: something pours in fast, fills the scene, and then eases off. You will often see it in writing about places where rivers can rise sharply after heavy rain, but it is just as common in news reports about a sudden burst of events.
A spate is a sudden and significant increase in something, most commonly a rush of water, such as a river rising fast after heavy rain. For example: "The recent storms caused a spate of flooding along the coast," or "After weeks of drought, the river rose in a dramatic spate."
Historically, the term was closely tied to rivers that rise and fall rapidly after rainfall. This use is especially common in British English, particularly in Scotland and northern parts of England. Because the water comes quickly and then drops again, the word carries a sense of something sudden but short-lived.
However, the word has broadened well beyond its watery origins. You can have a spate of complaints, accidents, resignations, attacks, or even lucky breaks. If a company announces a controversial new policy, there might be a "spate of resignations," meaning many people quit in a very short time. In a lighter context, a writer might have a spate of ideas during an afternoon walk.
The key element of a spate is that it is sudden and often temporary. It is not a gradual, steady increase; it is a burst or a surge. While it is often used for dramatic events like floods or crimes, "spate" also works for less serious but still noticeable rises in number or activity. Whether you are describing a swollen river or a sudden cluster of events, "spate" conveys the idea of something arriving quickly and forcefully before it fades.
Examples
- 1
Crime reports
Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.
- Patterna spate of + plural noun
many events, often unwanted, happening close together
- 2
Travel delays
The airline faced a spate of delays during the holiday weekend.
- 3
River conditions
With the river in spate, the bridge was closed until morning.
- Phrasein spate
very full and fast after heavy rain
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- spatenounverb
Forms
- spatesverbnoun
- spatedpast tenseverbnoun
- spating-ing formverbnoun