Spate

/speɪt/
noun

A large number of similar things or events that happen together in a short period of time, especially unpleasant ones.

There has been a spate of robberies in the city recently.
Visual representation of "spate" - A large number of similar things or events that happen together in a short period of time, especially unpleasant ones

Often appears as...

  • spate of attacks
  • spate of injuries

Usage tips

Formal

noun

A sudden and heavy flood.

The heavy rain led to a spate that destroyed several homes in the area.
Visual representation of "spate" - A sudden and heavy flood

Often appears as...

  • spate in the river
  • sudden spate

Usage tips

Formal

noun

A large number of similar things or events that happen together in a short period of time, especially unpleasant ones.

There has been a spate of robberies in the city recently.
Visual representation of "spate" - A large number of similar things or events that happen together in a short period of time, especially unpleasant ones

Often appears as...

  • spate of attacks
  • spate of injuries

Usage tips

Formal

noun

A sudden and heavy flood.

The heavy rain led to a spate that destroyed several homes in the area.
Visual representation of "spate" - A sudden and heavy flood

Often appears as...

  • spate in the river
  • sudden spate

Usage tips

Formal

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "spate"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Unpleasant Events

Spate often describes negative occurrences, suggesting a sudden surge that feels overwhelming.

Illustration for Unpleasant Events
Local hospitals are dealing with a spate of Covid-19 cases.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Temporal Cluster

A spate indicates events happen close together in time, implying a sense of urgency or intensity.

Illustration for Temporal Cluster
After the scandal, there was a spate of resignations from the board.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Connotation of Excess

Using spate implies there are more events than usual, often to the point of being excessive or hard to manage.

Illustration for Connotation of Excess
A spate of holiday bookings followed the lift of travel restrictions.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Unpleasant Events

Spate often describes negative occurrences, suggesting a sudden surge that feels overwhelming.

Illustration for Unpleasant Events
Local hospitals are dealing with a spate of Covid-19 cases.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Temporal Cluster

A spate indicates events happen close together in time, implying a sense of urgency or intensity.

Illustration for Temporal Cluster
After the scandal, there was a spate of resignations from the board.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Connotation of Excess

Using spate implies there are more events than usual, often to the point of being excessive or hard to manage.

Illustration for Connotation of Excess
A spate of holiday bookings followed the lift of travel restrictions.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Unpleasant Events

Spate often describes negative occurrences, suggesting a sudden surge that feels overwhelming.

Illustration for Unpleasant Events
Local hospitals are dealing with a spate of Covid-19 cases.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Temporal Cluster

A spate indicates events happen close together in time, implying a sense of urgency or intensity.

Illustration for Temporal Cluster
After the scandal, there was a spate of resignations from the board.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Connotation of Excess

Using spate implies there are more events than usual, often to the point of being excessive or hard to manage.

Illustration for Connotation of Excess
A spate of holiday bookings followed the lift of travel restrictions.
Visual representation of the word "Spate"

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Video examples

What Shark Is Attacking...

So what is behind this deadly spate of attacks? According to local news reporter Jerry Sinon, it's a question on everyone's mind. There was a lot of rumors in regards to the attacks.

Video examples

Billy Collins: Two poems...

I don't know if you've noticed, but there's been a spate of books that have come out lately contemplating or speculating on the cognition and emotional life of dogs.

Video examples

What Shark Is Attacking...

So what is behind this deadly spate of attacks? According to local news reporter Jerry Sinon, it's a question on everyone's mind. There was a lot of rumors in regards to the attacks.

Video examples

Billy Collins: Two poems...

I don't know if you've noticed, but there's been a spate of books that have come out lately contemplating or speculating on the cognition and emotional life of dogs.

Example 1 of 2

Quote examples

Peter Ackroyd

British Author

Rioting has always been a London tradition. It has been since the early Middle Ages. There's hardly a spate of years that goes by without violent rioting of one kind or another. They happen so frequently that they are almost part of London's texture.
Portrait of Peter Ackroyd

Quote examples

Pierre Omidyar

French Businessman

In February of 1996, about six months after I created eBay, I started receiving a spate of complaints. Everyone was complaining about each other. I felt very much like I was a parent who had to adjudicate the brothers beating each other up.
Portrait of Pierre Omidyar

Quote examples

Mick Hucknall

English Singer

I had a spate of being run over between the ages of 11 and 13. I was quite a rambunctious child, I had a little moped I used to ride illegally. I got hit by cars three times because I was a very day-dreamy kid.
Portrait of Mick Hucknall

Quote examples

Kunal Khemu

Indian Actor

I started off with films similar to 'Blood Money' - intense, emotional dramas. But as is often the case, the industry and audience typecast me and I decided to break away. Hence, followed a spate of comedies.
Portrait of Kunal Khemu

Quote examples

Shobana

In Tamil or Malayalam, there was a time when light films ruled. Then, a spate of drama or women-oriented stunt films followed.
Portrait of Shobana

Quote examples

Peter Hitchens

English Journalist

A serious dose of unemployment and a spate of bank failures can make the unelectable electable quite quickly.
Portrait of Peter Hitchens

Quote examples

Kovai Sarala

Indian Actress

The audience always looks for a change. After a spate of action, and romance, now they want to laugh.
Portrait of Kovai Sarala

Quote examples

Meredith Whitney

American Businesswoman

There's not a doubt in my mind that you will see a spate of municipal-bond defaults.
Portrait of Meredith Whitney

Quote examples

Peter Ackroyd

British Author

Rioting has always been a London tradition. It has been since the early Middle Ages. There's hardly a spate of years that goes by without violent rioting of one kind or another. They happen so frequently that they are almost part of London's texture.
Portrait of Peter Ackroyd

Quote examples

Pierre Omidyar

French Businessman

In February of 1996, about six months after I created eBay, I started receiving a spate of complaints. Everyone was complaining about each other. I felt very much like I was a parent who had to adjudicate the brothers beating each other up.
Portrait of Pierre Omidyar

Quote examples

Mick Hucknall

English Singer

I had a spate of being run over between the ages of 11 and 13. I was quite a rambunctious child, I had a little moped I used to ride illegally. I got hit by cars three times because I was a very day-dreamy kid.
Portrait of Mick Hucknall

Quote examples

Kunal Khemu

Indian Actor

I started off with films similar to 'Blood Money' - intense, emotional dramas. But as is often the case, the industry and audience typecast me and I decided to break away. Hence, followed a spate of comedies.
Portrait of Kunal Khemu

Quote examples

Shobana

In Tamil or Malayalam, there was a time when light films ruled. Then, a spate of drama or women-oriented stunt films followed.
Portrait of Shobana

Quote examples

Peter Hitchens

English Journalist

A serious dose of unemployment and a spate of bank failures can make the unelectable electable quite quickly.
Portrait of Peter Hitchens

Quote examples

Kovai Sarala

Indian Actress

The audience always looks for a change. After a spate of action, and romance, now they want to laugh.
Portrait of Kovai Sarala

Quote examples

Meredith Whitney

American Businesswoman

There's not a doubt in my mind that you will see a spate of municipal-bond defaults.
Portrait of Meredith Whitney
Example 1 of 8
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