spend

verb

spent ˈspent How to pronounce spend (audio) ; spending

transitive verb

1
: to use up or pay out : expend
2
a
: exhaust, wear out
the hurricane gradually spent itself
b
: to consume wastefully : squander
the waters are not ours to spendJ. R. Ellis
3
: to cause or permit to elapse : pass
spend the night
4

intransitive verb

1
: to expend or waste wealth or strength
2
: to become expended or consumed
3
: to have an orgasm
spendable adjective
spender noun

Examples of spend in a Sentence

I spent $30 on his birthday gift. They spend a lot on clothes and cars. I want to buy a new car, but I don't have much money to spend. Her willingness to spend freely made her popular among her friends. He spends lavishly on vacations. I spent my summer at the beach. She spent eight months living in New York City. Relaxing with friends is a great way to spend a weekend. Our cat spends most of his time sleeping. Too much of my time is spent arguing with customers.
Recent Examples on the Web Michael Strahan’s daughter Isabella is giving an update on her cancer treatment after spending several days in the hospital. Shania Russell, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2024 The pair spent some time at the Montana Wildlife Center in Helena for rehabilitation and preparation to be released back into the wild, the zoo said. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Earn a $150 statement credit by using an eligible Amex card at Omni Hotels & Resorts to spend at least $750 by May 15. Ramsey Qubein, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2024 Instead of spending time discussing the Middle East, some residents suggested Albany officials should leave the issue to the federal government and focus on local matters. Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Kentucky and Ohio are considering proposals to spend millions of dollars of opioid settlement money on clinical trials for ibogaine therapy. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Fewer episodes and less time spent on the self-destructive café manager would have kept the storyline squarely on Rocco’s psyche. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 The $23 million being spent in Charlotte is on top of a $120.5 million investment made last year for GM customer care and after-sales centers in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Burton, Michigan, and Memphis, Tennessee. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 With two men in the race whom voters already know well from the 2020 election cycle (and, of course, the decades each spent in the political and media spotlights) and little excitement about either candidate, the key to the race could be turnout. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English -spendan, from Medieval Latin expendere to disburse, use up, from Latin, to measure by weight, pay out — more at expend

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spend was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near spend

Cite this Entry

“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spend. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spend

verb
spent ˈspent How to pronounce spend (audio) ; spending
1
: to pay out : expend
2
: to cause or allow (as time) to pass
spent the day with friends
3
b
: to use wastefully : squander
spender noun

More from Merriam-Webster on spend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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