spare

²spare

adj

spar·erspar·est

Definition of SPARE

1

: not being used; especially : held for emergency use <a spare tire>

2

: being over and above what is needed : superfluous <spare time>

3

: not liberal or profuse : sparing <a spare prose style>

4

: healthily lean

5

: not abundant or plentiful

— spare·ly adverb

— spare·ness noun

Examples of SPARE

1. a spare pair of gloves
2. I keep a spare set of keys in my desk.
3. He has a spare frame.
4. He was tall and spare.
5. I like her spare style of writing.

Origin of SPARE

Middle English, from Old English spær sparing, scant; akin to Old High German spar spare

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SPARE

Synonyms: excess, extra, redundant, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus

Antonyms: bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting

Related Words: accessory, additional, supplemental, supplementary; de trop, dispensable, extraneous, gratuitous, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted; abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, plenteous, plentiful

Near Antonyms: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, short, shortish, skimpy, sparse

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at lean, meager