What is the past tense of "spread"?

The past simple of "spread" is "spread". She spread butter on her toast.

What is a common mistake with "spread"?

Wrong: "He spreads the jam on the bread yesterday.". Correct: "He spread the jam on the bread yesterday.". Irregular past tense: use 'spread' not 'spreads'. Third-person singular requires '-s' only in present tense.

Conjugation of "Spread" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: What is the past participle of "spread"?

The past participle of "spread" is "spread". Use it after have/has/had: "I have spread".

Q: Is "spread" regular or irregular?

"Spread" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: spread-spread-spread.

Q: How do you pronounce "spread"?

/spred/ — The word spread has the short 'e' vowel sound /e/, not a long vowel. Rhymes with bed, not bead.

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All 12 Tenses of "Spread"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "spread" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I spread`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I spreaded`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will spread`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am spreading`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was spreading`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be spreading`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have spreaded`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had spreaded`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have spreaded`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been spreading`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been spreading`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been spreading`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Spread" — Spread

The past simple of "spread" is "spread". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "spread" is irregular, "spread" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

She spread butter on her toast. A2
The wildfire spread quickly through the forest. B1

Past Participle of "Spread" — Spread

The past participle of "spread" is "spread". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have spread"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was spread"). Because "spread" is irregular, "spread" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

She spread butter on her toast. A2
The wildfire spread quickly through the forest. B1

Is "Spread" Regular or Irregular?

"Spread" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "spread", past simple "spread", and past participle "spread". The 3rd-person singular present is "spreads" and the present participle/gerund is "spreading". Conjugation pattern: spread-spread-spread.

Conjugation pattern: spread-spread-spread

How to Pronounce "Spread" and Its Forms

Spread: /spred/ — Stress pattern: O

The word spread has the short 'e' vowel sound /e/, not a long vowel. Rhymes with bed, not bead.

Common mispronunciation of "spread"

Avoid pronouncing it like 'spred' with a schwa; it rhymes with 'bread'.

How to Use "Spread" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use spread with objects like butter, jam, disease, or information. The past tense and past participle are both 'spread', which makes it irregular.

spread + noun
spread + adverb of manner

Example Sentences with "Spread" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: The wildfire spread quickly through the forest. B1
Simple Past: She spread butter on her toast. A2

Common Collocations with "Spread"

spread butter
spread quickly
spread awareness
spread wide
spread across

When to Use "Spread" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

extend — for making something longer or wider
distribute — for sharing or spreading items among people
disperse — for spreading things in different directions

Antonyms: gather, collect, concentrate

Common Mistakes with "Spread"

Wrong: She spread often.
Correct: She spreads often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Spread"

From Old English spredan, meaning to extend outward.

Conjugation Tables for "Spread"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not spread · He does not spread
Simple past: I did not spread · She did not spread
Present perfect: I have not spread · He has not spread

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you spread? · Does he spread?
Simple past: Did you spread?
Present perfect: Have you spread?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is spread
Simple past passive: It was spread
Present perfect passive: It has been spread

Frequently Asked Questions About "Spread"

Is "spread" regular or irregular?: "spread" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "spreaded" and past participle is "spreaded". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "spread"?: The simple past of "spread" is "spreaded".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "spread"?: Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "spreaded".