spent

adjective

ˈspent 

1

a

: used up : consumed

b

: exhausted of active or required components or qualities often for a particular purpose

spent nuclear fuel

2

: drained of energy or effectiveness : exhausted

3

: exhausted of spawn or sperm

spent fishes

Synonyms

• exhausted
• tired
• drained
• done
• weary

Examples of spent in a Sentence

he plopped down in his chair, completely spent, and then fell asleep

Recent Examples on the Web

In the 1950s, French engineers helped Israel build a nuclear reactor and a secret reprocessing plant to separate plutonium from spent reactor fuel. —Dan De Luce, NBC news, 28 June 2025

In a nuclear power plant, the reactor core and the spent nuclear fuel are the most radioactive components. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025

Grab the spent bloom in one hand, and use hand pruners to snip it off to the first full set of leaves below the flower, not the little, tiny leaflets right under it, says Hirvela. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 June 2025

When flowers begin to fade, begonias do well to have a little extra care—pinching or cutting off the spent blossoms, known as deadheading. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from past participle of spenden to spend

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing spent

• a spent force
• well spent

Rhymes for spent

• bent
• blent
• cent
• ent
• fent
• lent
• meant
• pent
• rent
• rente
• scent
• sent

Kids Definition

spent

adjective

ˈspent 

1

: used up

2

: drained of energy