ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spits

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈspɪts// UK //spˈɪts// spits

v. to force liquid, like saliva, out of your mouth. You might do this if you taste something bad or need to clear your throat.

v. to eject saliva or other substances forcibly from the mouth. Often used with 'out' when referring to a specific object or liquid.


SIMPLE

He spits the bitter medicine into the sink.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete often spits on the grass to clear his throat during a long race.

COMPLEX

The volcano occasionally spits ash and small stones into the air, though it has not produced a full lava flow in decades.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is often followed by the preposition 'at' when directed toward a target, or 'out' when removing something from the mouth.

Pitfall

He spit the waterHe spat the waterWhile 'spit' is used as the past tense in American English, 'spat' is the standard past tense form in British English.

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