Use spate for rivers or streams that flood suddenly after heavy rain: 'the river was in spate', 'a spate caused by snowmelt'. This is the original literal sense, most common in British and Scottish English.
Use spate for rivers or streams that flood suddenly after heavy rain: 'the river was in spate', 'a spate caused by snowmelt'. This is the original literal sense, most common in British and Scottish English.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The spate lasted all night. | The rain lasted all night. |
| The flooding was caused by a heavy spate. | The flooding was caused by heavy rainfall. |
Use spate for a concentrated burst of similar incidents: 'a spate of burglaries', 'a spate of resignations', 'a spate of criticism'. It implies more than just many — the events feel like a sudden overwhelming wave. Typically followed by 'of'.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| There was a spate accidents last week. | There was a spate of accidents last week. |
| A spate new laws were passed. | A spate of new laws were passed. |
Spate is nearly always followed by 'of' in the figurative sense: 'a spate of attacks', 'a spate of letters'. The literal sense can stand alone: 'the river was in spate'. Both uses share the core idea of something sudden and overwhelming.
In the figurative sense, spate must be followed by 'of': 'a spate attacks' is wrong. Also, spate implies suddenness and volume together — using it for a gradual accumulation ('a spate of slow growth') is a mismatch.
Middle English spate (also spait), first recorded c. 1425 in Scottish and northern English usage meaning 'a sudden flood'. The further origin is uncertain; possibly related to spatter and Dutch spatten ('to splash'), perhaps from a Proto-Indo-European root imitative of spitting or splashing. The figurative sense of 'a large number of things at once' developed later from the core image of a sudden, uncontrollable rush.
What does spate mean?
Spate has two meanings: literally, a sudden flooding of a river ('the river was in spate'); figuratively, a large number of similar things happening at once ('a spate of burglaries').
How do you use spate in a sentence?
Always follow it with 'of' in the figurative sense: 'a spate of complaints', 'a spate of new regulations'. In the literal sense it can stand alone: 'the river came into spate overnight'.
What is the difference between spate and wave?
Both describe a concentrated burst of events. Spate tends to imply something more sudden, overwhelming, and often unwelcome. Wave is more neutral and can describe positive trends too.
Is spate British English?
Yes, spate is more common in British and Scottish English. American English tends to prefer 'rash', 'wave', or 'string' for the figurative sense.
What is the origin of the word spate?
Spate is Middle English, first recorded c. 1425 in Scottish and northern English. Its ultimate origin is uncertain — possibly related to spatter or Dutch spatten (to splash). It originally described a sudden river flood.