Spill past tense: spilt/spilled, spilt/spilled
let liquid escape
Spill is an irregular English verb: the past simple of spill is spilt/spilled and the past participle is spilt/spilled. Learn the three forms together — spill – spilt/spilled – spilt/spilled.
Verb forms
Base form
/spɪl/
Past Simple
/spɪlt/, /spɪld/
Past Participle
/spɪlt/, /spɪld/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · spill
Toddlers spill drinks all the time.
Past Simple · spilt/spilled
He spilt coffee all over the keyboard.
Past Participle · spilt/spilled
Paint had been spilt across the floor.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I spill he / she / it spills | I spilt | I have spilt |
| Present Continuous:I am spilling · he / she / it is spilling | ||
Grammar guide
Spill belongs to the ABB group: the past simple and the past participle are the same (spilt/spilled). This is the largest group of irregular verbs — you only need to learn one past form.
- Past simple – spilt/spilled: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – spilt/spilled: after have, has or had (present perfect, past perfect) and after be in the passive voice.
- Questions and negatives in the past simple use did + the base form: Did you spill…? I didn’t spill.
Questions about spill
- What is the past simple of spill?
- The past simple of spill is spilt/spilled.
- What is the past participle of spill?
- The past participle of spill is spilt/spilled.
- What are the three forms of spill?
- The three forms are spill – spilt/spilled – spilt/spilled: base form, past simple and past participle.