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 of expend

• spend
• pay

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

All three boosters were expended, so no sonic boom landings. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

The end had come, the last ounce of effort expended, and the pride was slowly overtaking the pain. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026

This is especially the case considering that the shrimp is not expending enormous amounts of metabolic energy to achieve them. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2026

Help a brother out Now is a good time to remind you that while this newsletter is free, the resources expended to cover it are not. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English expenden, exspenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French espendre, expendre, borrowed from Latin expendere "to weigh, pay out, disburse," from ex- ex- entry 1 + pendere "to weigh, have a weight of, pay (out), estimate, consider" — more at pendent

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