expend

verb

ex·​pend ik-ˈspend How to pronounce expend (audio)
expended; expending; expends

transitive verb

1
: to pay out : spend
the social services upon which public revenue is expendedJ. A. Hobson
2
: to make use of for a specific purpose : utilize
projects on which they expended great energy
also : use up
expender noun

Examples of expend in a Sentence

Are we willing to expend the time and resources required to solve the problem? redecoration will have to wait, since we've just expended our last dollar in buying the house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some supporters of Ukraine say that even a few strikes deeper inside Russia would force its military to change deployments and expend more of its resources. Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Matthew Lee, and Ellen Knickmeyer, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Nov. 2024 But ramping up production, or replacing munitions expended during the wars in Ukraine and Middle East conflicts, is extremely difficult to do in short order because U.S. weapons are more costly and more complex than those produced by U.S. adversaries like Russia. William Hartung, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 That line could be used as an insult for, say, a member of a sports team not expending enough effort. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024 Metabolism is the rate at which someone expends energy and uses calories. Patty Weasler, Rn, Bsn, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for expend 

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expend was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near expend

Cite this Entry

“Expend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expend. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

expend

verb
ex·​pend ik-ˈspend How to pronounce expend (audio)
1
: to pay out : spend
expend state funds
2
: use up
expend energy

More from Merriam-Webster on expend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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