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

• all in
• aweary [archaic]
• beat
• beaten
• bleary
• burned-out
• burnt-out
• bushed
• dead
• done
• drained
• exhausted
• fatigued
• jaded
• knackered [British]
• limp
• logy
• loggy
• played out
• pooped [slang]
• prostrate
• tapped out
• tired
• tuckered (out)
• washed-out
• wearied
• weary
• wiped out
• worn
• worn-out

Examples of spent in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Substitute espresso powder with spent coffee grounds in your recipe. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025

Plants native to a meadow or grassland habitat will be accustomed to their own loose, thatch-like layer of spent foliage and stems, and should also be able to regrow through it with no trouble. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025

The proliferation of fast breeder recycling of spent fuel, already the norm in France and Russia, provides an opportunity to address these problems and make storage easier by reducing the quantities of leftover material. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

The spent rocket parts fell into the Atlantic Ocean. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 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