expend

verb

ex·​pend ik-ˈspend 

expended; expending; expends

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

expender noun

Synonyms

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

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

The first-stage booster flew for a record-tieng 20th time, but was expended getting the payload to medium-Earth orbit. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025

Rather than expending effort on model comparisons, enterprises should acknowledge and focus their time on the true foundation of all good AI: data quality. —Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Not only can a single missile boat pack more firepower than all the munitions expended during the Second World War, subs also enjoy a remarkable degree of stealth. —New Atlas, 26 Apr. 2025

Many experts have voiced their concern over the amount of energy expended by these models — as well as the ensuing environmental impact — over the last several years. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for expend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

expend

verb

ex·​pend ik-ˈspend 

1

: to pay out : spend

expend state funds

2

: use up

expend energy