Gravitational waves spread out in a spherical manner through three dimensions of space. They are ripples in the fabric of spacetime itself, created by the acceleration of massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars. Just like a stone creates ripples in a pond that spread out in all directions, gravitational waves radiate outwards in a similar manner. These waves propagate away from their source, carrying energy and information about the accelerating masses that produced them.