expend

ex·pend

verb \ik-ˈspend\

Definition of EXPEND

transitive verb

1

: to pay out : spend <the social services upon which public revenue is expended — J. A. Hobson>

2

: to make use of for a specific purpose : utilize <projects on which they expended great energy>; also : use up

— ex·pend·er noun

Examples of EXPEND

1. Are we willing to expend the time and resources required to solve the problem?
2. <redecoration will have to wait, since we've just expended our last dollar in buying the house>

Origin of EXPEND

Middle English, from Latin expendere to weigh out, expend, from ex- + pendere to weigh — more at spin

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to EXPEND

Synonyms: disburse, drop, spend, fork (over, out, or up), give, lay out, outlay, pay, shell out

Antonyms: renew, replace

Related Words: lavish, rain; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), run through, squander, throw away, waste

Near Antonyms: cache, hoard, lay up, save; acquire, earn, gain, garner, make, procure, realize, secure, win

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with EXPEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end