The verb to spill · Conjugation
Past Simple of spill
The answer: spilled (US) / spilt (UK)
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to spill is spilled (US) / spilt (UK).
Example: He spilled coffee on his shirt.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | spilled / spilt |
| You | spilled / spilt |
| He / She / It | spilled / spilt |
| We | spilled / spilt |
| You (pl.) | spilled / spilt |
| They | spilled / spilt |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Thinking spilt is wrong ❌
Both forms are correct. American English prefers spilled, and British English often uses spilt. Other verbs have the same double form: burned/burnt, learned/learnt.
2. Spill the beans = to drop some beans ❌
These are idioms, so don't read them word by word. Spill the beans (classic) means to tell a secret. Spill the tea (modern slang) means to share gossip.
3. An oil spilling ❌
Spill is also a noun. (1) A spill is liquid that escapes: an oil spill pollutes the sea. (2) A spill can also be a fall: He took a spill means he fell over.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of spill?+
There are two forms: spilled (more common in the US) and spilt (more common in the UK). The past participle is the same. Spill → spilled/spilt → spilled/spilt.
Is spill the beans an idiom?+
Yes. Spill the beans is an idiom: it means to tell a secret. He spilled the beans about the surprise means he told everyone about the surprise too early.
What does don't cry over spilt milk mean?+
It is a British idiom. It means there is no point in feeling sad about something you can't change. In American English, people say spilled milk.
Is it didn't spill or didn't spilled?+
Say didn't spill: He didn't spill anything. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (spill, not spilled).
Does spill the tea mean to drink tea?+
No! Spill the tea is modern slang: it means to share gossip (stories about other people). What's the tea? means what's the latest gossip? It is a modern version of spill the beans.
Related pages: spill Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/spill/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to spill are coming soon.