# spread vs stream

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### spread
*verb · IPA /spɹɛd/ · frequency rank #1,650*
To stretch out, open out (a material etc.) so that it more fully covers a given area of space.

### stream
*noun · IPA /stɹiːm/ · frequency rank #2,407*
A small river; a large creek; a body of moving water confined by banks.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spread-vs-stream