How to Use splay in a Sentence

splay

1 of 2 verb
  • He sat with his legs splayed apart.
  • His fingers splayed out over the table as he steadied himself.
  • She splayed her fingers to show off her manicure.
  • And the super-roomy toe box allowed my feet to splay out with each step.
    — Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 26 Apr. 2019
  • The man’s feet were splayed against the pink tile on either side of the spigot.
    — Jamie Quatro, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
  • The last offers a wider forefoot to let the foot splay out across the pedal.
    — Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2021
  • Across the boat, a young guy with thin lips and a sweater tied around his shoulders leans back and splays his legs.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
  • Folks splayed out on blankets across the grassy lawns, fanned themselves and cooled off with cold beers.
    — Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
  • His fingers splayed and writhed like a terrible mandible.
    — Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The full video shows a man — Retes — splayed on the ground surrounded by agents.
    — Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Limbs unfurl and slice, hands and feet flex and point, fingers splayed or curled inward like claws.
    — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Apr. 2018
  • On the album cover, she’s splayed across a blue-gray carpet in a brown sweater and sheer tights.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
  • The deer was seen lying down with all its extremities splayed out.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2023
  • The marmot looks paralyzed by fear, its fingers splayed and mouth agape.
    — Natasha Daly, National Geographic, 15 Oct. 2019
  • Isabelle hops, arms splayed upward, hits the water, and swims to Mom.
    — Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
  • One moment, she’s splayed across the marquetry top of the dining table.
    — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
  • His feet splayed slightly outward and his gait was even and measured, the pace of a man of purpose.
    — Scott Johnson, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 July 2023
  • The suspect was heavyset and walked with a unique gait, feet splayed apart, as seen in the surveillance video.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Ingram has taken a few tough looks with two teammates open for 3, splayed out behind him.
    — Eric Koreen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • DeChambeau splayed drives right, and putts short, long, wide and all about the tricky Aronimink greens.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
  • With his eyes rolled back in his head and his hand splayed in front of him, Will stops them each mid-air and kills them instantly.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
  • Bob came out, blinking his eyes hard and closing his big fists tight, splaying his fingers back out in a pink baby starfish.
    — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Deboned and splayed on a tray, with drumsticks and wings marking each corner, the duck is a marvel to behold as well as a joy to eat.
    — Providence Cicero, The Seattle Times, 15 June 2017
  • The moped passenger, who police said was struck by the truck’s rear wheel, can be seen on the video splayed out unconscious on the street.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026
  • Counterfeit goods are usually sold on blankets that are splayed out on the sidewalk or on tables.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Week after week, his digits splayed across his helmet in anguish after passes ticked off his hands and into the grass.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
  • The carrier unzips and splays out into hanging storage for your beauty items.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Another photo depicts the raccoon lying face down, limbs splayed, next to a toilet.
    — Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
  • Before this handy feature, passengers would have the whole boarding process held up with their bags splayed out in the aisle, digging out one tiny item.
    — Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
  • Another ended with lifeless bodies splayed out on the dance floor or slumped in their plates, their blood staining white tablecloths crimson.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026

splay

2 of 2 noun
  • Peonies fall victim to spring storms; stems splay or break and cannot be righted.
    — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2021
  • The fin on the fish’s back breaks the water first, then the delicate splay of its tail.
    — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • The shoe is snug in the heel but wide in the forefoot, allowing for toe splay and blood flow.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 27 May 2022
  • The Chagossians bent to their knees and kissed the sand, leaving a splay of palm prints.
    — Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022
  • Three easy exercises are the short foot, foot splay and toe yoga.
    — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 4 Jan. 2022
  • Fit is true-to-size, with enough room in the toe box to allow for a natural toe splay over the wide sole.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022
  • For those who have wide feet, Altra stands out for its unique toe box design that allows for full toe splay.
    — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 4 Dec. 2018
  • The upper fit was found true to size and the toe box ample for most, but not wide enough for those who count on full splay or who have a high volume foot.
    — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 27 Apr. 2020
  • Fans of zero-drop shoes that accommodate full toe splay will enjoy this comfy number.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 10 June 2022
  • Explanations for the whys and hows this happened splay every direction.
    — Tom Noie, Indianapolis Star, 14 Jan. 2020
  • Tall stalks of foam bend and splay to the human form, so object and sitter, together, make a unique, changing sculpture.
    — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 29 Feb. 2020
  • For some people, simply switching shoes (and possibly ditching their socks) is enough to help their toes achieve proper splay.
    — Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
  • My students’ affront felt as sensible to me as expecting anatomy classes to flag each splay of flesh.
    — Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
  • It is shaped like my foot, snugging and securing the heel and arch while relaxing and opening up at the ball to allow for toe splay and flex.
    — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 16 Apr. 2020
  • On the one hand, testers appreciated the rather voluminous fit for its comfort and natural toe-splay.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022
  • Merrell designed this pair specifically for women, with our specific toe splay, hip width, and arch propensities in mind.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2022
  • These are super lightweight and flexible kicks with a zero drop, designed to help improve natural running and walking form and toe splay.
    — Locke Hughes, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2019
  • Words in languages current, ancient and legendary splay across its doors, bumpers and hatches, predicting a future in which the people of the world are united.
    — Danielle Ohl, baltimoresun.com, 7 July 2017
  • These are super lightweight and flexible kicks with a zero drop, designed to help improve natural running and walking form, and toe splay.
    — Locke Hughes, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2019
  • Rather than a single cavern with a rectangular opening flap on the top, this hauler unzips around the sides and splays open into two halves, each with a mesh zippered cover.
    — Ariella Gintzler, Outside Online, 10 May 2018
  • The fit accommodates wide feet and allows for forefoot splay, while wrapping and supporting comfortably and securely.
    — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 4 May 2020
  • The toe-splay-accommodating fit provides a comfortable, connected and stable feel.
    — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 4 June 2021
  • These continue to be a favorite for barefoot runners and hikers looking for maximum toe splay that even the wider toe box in traditional barefoot shoes doesn’t offer.
    — Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
  • Even our runners with regular-width feet appreciated the extra space, once they got used to their toes having room for their natural positioning and splay.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 19 Sep. 2024
  • Bont makes a wider shoe than many others on the market, allowing greater toe splay and more comfort for wider midfoots, and this high-performing shoe comes in two width options to fit a wide range of foot shapes and sizes.
    — Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023
  • The upper also provides a more generous fit than other Skechers, accommodating those looking for a wider forefoot and toe splay.
    — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 19 May 2021
  • As expected from Altra, the toe box is wide enough for full splay and combines with the zero-drop geometry for a stable, natural, balanced platform.
    — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2022
  • In the trilogy, there is also a landscape crop of three very similar-looking male models, two of which are wearing what look like chainlink skirts, while a third splays on the floor of a gray set, donning a tailored coat of the same colour.
    — Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, 16 Jan. 2020
  • The forefoot is roomy (for natural toe splay) without feeling sloppy, and the 26-millimeter-thick foam from heel to toe is both soft and responsive, resulting in a notably enjoyable ride.
    — Cory Smith, Outside Online, 29 Aug. 2021
  • From the looks of the video, multiple vents were erupting from the New Southeast Crater, producing a splay of lava fountains during this intense strombolian eruption.
    — Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2013

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'splay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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