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Prepositions after verbs

Smear with or smear on?

Use smear with for the substance covering something, and smear on for putting a substance onto a surface or body part.

Quick answer

Smear with vs. smear on

Smear with describes what covers something: The bread was smeared with butter. Smear on describes applying a substance to a surface: She smeared sunscreen on her arms.

The toast was smeared with butter.
He smeared paint on the wall.
She smeared cream on her face.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
smear with + substance

Showing what covers something

Use smear with to name the material spread over a surface.

The floor was smeared with mud.
His hands were smeared with grease.
2
smear + substance + on + surface

Applying something onto a surface

Use smear on to describe putting a substance onto a place or object.

They smeared glue on the paper.
She smeared lotion on her legs.
3
smear across + surface

Showing movement over an area

Across emphasises the direction or spread of the substance.

Red paint was smeared across the canvas.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
smear with
The bread was smeared with jam.
The surface is covered by the substance.
smear on
She smeared sunscreen on her shoulders.
Someone applies a substance onto a surface.
smear onto
He smeared paint onto the door.
A more formal variant of smear on.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using with for the surface

With usually introduces the substance, not the place receiving it.

✕ She smeared cream with her face. ✓ She smeared cream on her face.

Leaving out the object after on

On normally needs a surface or body part after it.

✕ He smeared paint on. ✓ He smeared paint on the wall.

Confusing passive and active patterns

Passive sentences with with focus on the covered surface.

✕ She smeared with mud the boots. ✓ The boots were smeared with mud.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The child smeared chocolate ___ the table.
2. His jacket was smeared ___ paint.
3. She smeared lotion ___ her hands before bed.

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Frequently asked questions

Can smear with describe people?

Yes. You can say someone was smeared with dirt or paint.

Is smear on only for physical substances?

Mostly yes. It commonly refers to creams, paint, mud, and similar materials.

What is the difference between smear on and spread on?

Both can describe applying a substance, but smear often suggests a messy or uneven action.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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