What does spilt mean?
Spilt is a standard form of the verb spill, used as its simple past tense and past participle. It describes the accidental or uncontrolled release of liquid, powder, or another substance from a container, as in “She spilt tea on the carpet,” although it can also be used when a discharge is not accidental. The word has an extended informal sense meaning to disclose information, most familiarly in the expression “spill the beans.” Another established usage refers to causing blood to be shed. Both “spilt” and “spilled” are accepted forms of the verb. “Spilled” is generally the more frequent choice in formal American English, whereas “spilt” has long been especially common in British English. As an adjective, “spilt” describes something that has been spilled, as in “spilt milk” or “spilt paint.”
To cause liquid, powder, or the contents of a container to flow out or become scattered, especially accidentally; also, informally, to reveal information.
"He spilt his drink while reaching for the newspaper."
Used as the simple past tense and past participle of spill. Both “spilt” and “spilled” are standard, with regional and stylistic preferences influencing their use.
That has been spilled or scattered, especially as a result of an accident.
"A patch of spilt paint marked the floor."
Common in attributive uses such as “spilt milk,” “spilt oil,” and “spilt paint.”
Both “spilt” and “spilled” are correct, but “spilled” remains the more common form in formal American English, while “spilt” has a familiar, traditional place in British usage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spilt come from?
The verb ultimately comes from Old English spillan, meaning to destroy or waste, and later acquired its modern sense of causing liquid to flow or scatter from a container. Middle English forms included spylle and spille, with the present form developed as spill. The inflection “spilt” belongs to the same Germanic root and has long coexisted with the form “spilled.” Related nouns such as “spillage,” “spillway,” and “spillover” developed from the same verbal root.
Related word forms
How spilt is actually used
“Spilt” is standard in British English and is also accepted in American English, though “spilled” is often preferred in formal American writing. In “spill the beans” and similar expressions, “spill” rather than the inflected form is normally used. The verb is transitive, though it can also occur without an object: “The cup spilt.”
Easily confused with spilt
Spilt is the established past tense and past participle of spill; it is not a misspelling of spilled, which is also correct.
Spilt refers to scattering liquid or contents, whereas spelled means to say or write the letters of a word.