1
: a stout pole
2
a
: a stout rounded usually wood or metal piece (such as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging
b
: any of the main longitudinal members of the wing of an airplane that carry the ribs
sparred; sparring
1
a
: box entry 3
especially
: to gesture without landing a blow to draw one's opponent or create an opening
b
: to engage in a practice or exhibition bout of boxing
3
: to strike or fight with feet or spurs in the manner of a gamecock
: any of various nonmetallic usually cleavable and lustrous minerals
Examples of spar in a Sentence
Verb
He's been sparring with his trainer.
They sparred playfully over whose team was better.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
In his cross, Adams repeatedly sparred with Maani over the terms of that deal.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
Blame game: Feds and New York sheriff spar Jesus Romero-Hernandez, a 27-year-old Mexican citizen, was previously removed from the United States six times between July and September 2016, according to a complaint viewed by Fox News Digital.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spar
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Verb
Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, for example, have been known to spar publicly over the matter — mostly because of one, specific means of defining space: the Kármán line.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
In his cross, Adams repeatedly sparred with Maani over the terms of that deal.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
Seeing these two icons — both mistreated by the industry for being talented and beautiful and powerful at the height of their stardom — connect and spar is positively electric.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
Blame game: Feds and New York sheriff spar Jesus Romero-Hernandez, a 27-year-old Mexican citizen, was previously removed from the United States six times between July and September 2016, according to a complaint viewed by Fox News Digital.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spar
Cite this Entry
“Spar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spar. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spar
1 of 2 noun1
: a stout pole
2
: a long rounded usually wood or metal piece (as a mast, boom, or yard) to which a sail is fastened
spar
2 of 2 verb
sparred; sparring
1
: to box or make boxing movements with the fists for practice or in fun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sparre "a stout pole, a pole used to support a sail on a ship"
Verb
Middle English sparren "to dart, spring"
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