Meaning & use
space
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
An empty or free area that is available to be used or filled.
Grammar: Uncountable for room in general (not enough space), countable for a particular spot (a parking space).
Patterns
- space for something
- space to do something
There is not enough space in the car for four suitcases.
We found a parking space near the entrance.
She cleared a space on the desk for her laptop.
noununcountable
The vast region beyond the atmosphere of Earth where the planets and stars are found.
Grammar: Usually without an article: travel into space.
Patterns
- travel into space
- in space
The astronauts spent six months in space.
A satellite was launched into space on Monday.
Children love books about space and planets.
noununcountableinformal
The time or room to think and be alone without pressure from others.
Grammar: Uncountable and informal: give someone space.
Patterns
- give someone space
- need space
After the argument, she needed some space.
Give him space and he will talk when he is ready.
A short walk gave me the space to think.
nouncountable
A gap or interval between things, in distance or in time.
Grammar: Countable: a space between the words.
Patterns
- a space between things
- in the space of something
Leave a space between each word.
He finished three books in the space of a week.
There was a small space between the two houses.
verbtransitive
To place things so that there are gaps between them.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with out: space out the chairs.
Patterns
- space something out
- space something apart
Space the plants about a foot apart.
She spaced out her payments over a year.
Please space the lines evenly on the page.
Word forms
| plural | spaces |
|---|---|
| third person singular | spaces |
| past tense | spaced |
| -ing form | spacing |
Common combinations
- outer space
- Rockets travel through outer space.
- parking space
- I can never find a parking space downtown.
- open space
- The city set aside open space for a new park.
- personal space
- People feel uncomfortable when their personal space is invaded.
- waste of space
- The old sofa is just a waste of space.
- storage space
- The apartment has plenty of storage space.
Synonyms and how they differ
- room
- Room is the everyday word for available space and is uncountable in this sense, but it also means a part of a building.
- gap
- Gap focuses on an opening between two things, while space can be a broad empty area.
- cosmos
- Cosmos is more formal and refers to the universe as an ordered whole.
- area
- Area is a measured surface or region, and does not suggest emptiness.
Opposites
Word family
- spacious adjective
- having plenty of room
- spacing noun
- the arrangement of gaps between things
- spaceship noun
- a vehicle for travel in space
- spatial adjective
- relating to space and position
- spaced-out adjective
- dreamy and not paying attention (informal)
Commonly confused: space or spice?
space vs spice
Spice is a flavoring for food, and the two words only look somewhat alike.
Practice
Which sentence uses space in the sense of a gap between things?
Choose one answer.
A space between paragraphs is a gap. The other sentences use space for outer space, personal room and a parking spot.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “space”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.