spun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral
Quick answer
What does “spun” mean?
past tense and past participle of 'spin': to turn or cause to turn rapidly around an axis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
past tense and past participle of 'spin': to turn or cause to turn rapidly around an axis
Used metaphorically for creating stories (spun a tale), describing dizzy states, or referring to processed materials (spun gold, spun sugar)
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling and usage are identical
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties
Frequency
Similar frequency across both varieties
Grammar
How to Use “spun” in a Sentence
Subject + spun + (object)Subject + spun + adverb/prepositional phraseSubject + spun + object + into + resultVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She spun the wool into yarn yesterday.
- The dancer spun beautifully across the stage.
- The politician spun the story to his advantage.
American English
- He spun the basketball on his finger for a full minute.
- My head spun after the roller coaster ride.
- The company spun off its tech division last quarter.
adverb
British English
- (Note: 'spun' is rarely used as an adverb; this category included for structure completeness)
American English
- (Note: 'spun' is rarely used as an adverb; this category included for structure completeness)
adjective
British English
- The spun glass was incredibly delicate.
- She wore a dress of fine spun silk.
- The spun sugar decoration melted quickly.
American English
- The spun gold thread shimmered in the light.
- They installed spun aluminum gutters on the house.
- The artisan created spun metal sculptures.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In business contexts, often appears in 'spun off' (to create a separate company) or 'spun a narrative' about company performance
Academic
Used in physics (spun particles), materials science (spun fibers), and literature analysis (spun tales)
Everyday
Common in descriptions of physical movement, storytelling, or dizziness
Technical
In manufacturing (spun materials), textiles (spun thread), and engineering (spun bearings)
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spun”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spun”
- Using 'spinned' instead of 'spun'
- Confusing 'spun' with 'span' (UK past tense alternative)
- Using 'spun' as present tense
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'spinned' is always incorrect. 'Spun' is the only correct past tense and past participle form of 'spin' in modern English.
Yes, particularly in compound terms like 'spun sugar', 'spun glass', or 'spun gold' where it describes materials produced by spinning processes.
'Span' is an archaic or dialectal British past tense that's rarely used today. 'Spun' is the standard past tense and past participle in both British and American English.
Yes, in business contexts 'spun' often appears in 'spun off' (creating independent companies) and 'spun a narrative' (crafting a particular story about events).
past tense and past participle of 'spin': to turn or cause to turn rapidly around an axis.
Spun is usually neutral in register.
Spun: in British English it is pronounced /spʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /spʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spun out of control”
- “spun a yarn”
- “spun gold”
- “spun sugar”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPUN sounds like SPIN with a 'U' - think 'I SPUN until I was dUizzy'
Conceptual Metaphor
CREATING IS SPINNING (spun a story), TIME IS SPINNING (the days spun by), CONFUSION IS SPINNING (my head spun)
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a correct use of 'spun'?