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

So, replacing sand with spent coffee grounds could solve two ecological problems at once, since SCG are similarly fine particles. —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 24 Aug. 2023

There, police found blood and a spent bullet shell casing in White’s vehicle. —Molly Walsh | [e-mail], cleveland, 17 July 2023

Ballistics experts used 3-D imaging and other techniques to analyze the spent bullet that prosecutors in 1990 said killed Effie Entezari. —Dperry, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2023

The collateral damage to Pivetta’s success was a spent bullpen. —Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2023

Just unscrew the bottom and dump out the spent coffee grounds. —Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 13 July 2023

Once the weapon is fired, the belt moves through the machine gun, ejects the spent cartridge case, and a new cartridge is loaded into the weapon’s breech. —Matthew Moss, Popular Mechanics, 11 July 2023

But in truth the church has been more symbolic than practical within the broader movement for reparations, and some African American scholars characterize the Black church’s larger role so far as marginal and its strength as a spent force. —Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 24 June 2023

For many residents, the soil testing — released six months after the incident — helped to ease some of the long-lasting concerns about health risks associated with the spent catalyst. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023

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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

• well spent
• a spent force

• well spent
• a spent force

Kids Definition

spent

adjective

ˈspent 

1

: used up

2

: drained of energy