# spun

/ˈspən/ (US) · /spˈʌn/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spun
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

the past tense of 'spin'. It describes when something turned around quickly many times, or when someone made thread by twisting wool or cotton.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'spin'. Describes the action of rotating rapidly around an axis or the process of twisting fibres together to form yarn.

## Examples

- The dancer spun around on one foot.
- The car spun out of control on the icy road but luckily didn't hit anything.
- The spider spun a complex web across the garden gate overnight, catching the morning dew in its delicate silk threads.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The coin spinned on the table." but "The coin spun on the table." — 'Spin' is an irregular verb; the past tense is 'spun', not 'spinned'.

## Usage notes

- Irregular past tense and past participle of 'spin'. Can be used transitively (spinning an object) or intransitively (the object itself rotating).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.