expire

verb

ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce expire (audio)
 usually for intransitive sense 3 and transitive sense 2  ek-
expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1
: to breathe one's last breath : die
2
: to come to an end: such as
a
: to exceed its period of validity
The contract will expire next month.
b
: to pass its expiration date (see expiration date sense 2)
This milk has expired.
" … when drugs expire, you can't just leave these things lying around."Ed Haislmaier
3
: to emit the breath

transitive verb

1
obsolete : conclude
2
: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs
3
archaic : emit

Examples of expire in a Sentence

My driver's license has expired. She expired after a long illness. measuring the volume of air expired from the lungs
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.
Messi left at the end of that season, his contract allowed to expire, while Neymar also departed. Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 June 2025 But that’s because in the TCJA, many of the tax benefits for individuals were set to expire at the end of 2025, while the corporate tax breaks were largely permanent. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 The Trump administration in April froze most of its tariffs for 90 days to allow time for negotiations, with that pause due to expire on July 9. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 27 June 2025 The contract began in May of this year and is set to expire at the end of June. Danny Bakst, Fortune, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expire

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Anglo-French espirer to breathe out, from Latin exspirare, from ex- + spirare to breathe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expire. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

expire

verb
ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(ə)r How to pronounce expire (audio)
 usually for sense 3  ek-
expired; expiring
1
: to breathe one's last breath : die
2
: to come to an end : be no longer in force
this offer expires March 1
my driver's license has expired
3
a
: to let the breath out
b
: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

Medical Definition

expire

verb
ex·​pire
ik-ˈspī(ə)r, usually for vi 2 and vt ek-
expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1
: to breathe one's last breath : die
2
: to emit the breath

transitive verb

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs
the basal metabolism test … measures the amount of carbon dioxide expired by the lungsJ. D. Ratcliff

More from Merriam-Webster on expire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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