What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
distribute
Example
The teacher will distribute the test papers to the students. [distribute: verb]
Example
The company distributes its products to stores across the country. [distributes: present tense]
spread
Example
The butter spread easily on the toast. [spread: verb]
Example
The virus is spreading rapidly across the world. [spreading: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distribute is more commonly used than spread in the context of products or goods, while spread is more commonly used in the context of information or ideas.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between distribute and spread?
Distribute is generally considered more formal than spread, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
