spend Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
spend definition

spend (spend)

transitive verb spent, spending spend′·ing

  1. to use up, exhaust, consume, or wear out his fury was spent
  2. to pay out (money); disburse
  3. to give or devote (time, labor, thought, or effort) to some enterprise or for some purpose
  4. to pass (a period of time) spending hours together
  5. to waste; squander

Etymology: ME spenden < OE spendan (in comp.) < ML spendere < L expendere: see expend

intransitive verb

  1. to pay out or use up money, etc.
  2. Obsolete to be or become consumed, wasted, etc.

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms spend idiom

spend Synonyms

spend

v.

  1. To expend

    consume, deplete, waste, dispense, contribute, donate, give, liquidate, exhaust, squander, disburse, allocate, pay, discharge, lay out, pay up, settle, defray, drain one's resources, empty one's purse, bestow, use up, put in, confer, misspend, absorb, prodigalize, throw away, cast away, foot the bill*, ante up*, open the purse*, fork out*, pony up*, blow*.

    Antonyms save*, keep*, conserve. *

  2. To pass time

    while away, let pass, idle, fritter away, misuse, occupy oneself, employ, fill, put in, squander, kill, fool away, drift, laze; see also consume 2, use 1, waste 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spend Usage Examples

Object

  • time: I am glad you were able to spend the time sitting out in the sun with Pepper.

Present participle complement

  • relax: The ones looking for contact with nature are invited to spend relaxing hours with fishing-rod on the Vistula riverbank or at the park pond.

Adjective complement

  • more: The Government will spend more than £ 1.7 billion on Winter Fuel Payments this year.

Preposition: in

  • classroom: Student performance seems to increase with each year the teacher spends in the classroom.
  • excess: B&NES has spent in excess of £ 500,000 on the Southgate application.
spend usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

spend quotes

I want a house that has got over all its troubles; I don't want to spend the rest of my life bringing up a young and inexperienced house.

-Jerome,Jerome K(lapka)

Resolve not to be poor; whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy tohumanhappiness; itcertainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult. 446

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

Come, my Celia, let us prove, While we can, the sports of love, Time will not be ours for ever, He, at length, our good will sever; Spend not then his gifts in vain: Suns that set may rise again; But if once we lose this light, 'Tis with us perpetual night. Why should we defer our joys? Fame and rumour are but toys.

-Jonson, Ben

spend quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"spend." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/spend>

APA Style

spend. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/spend

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment