expire

verb

ik-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce expire (audio)
Definition of expirenext
1
as in to end
to come to an end speakers will not be allowed to continue after their allotted time has expired

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to exhale
to let or force out of the lungs he vows to hold on to that belief until he expires his last breath

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to die
to stop living made one last visit to his homeland and expired not long afterwards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to release
archaic to throw or give off linden trees expiring their rich perfume

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of expire Doesn't expire Free Beauty Insider members get free standard shipping on all orders—no code needed. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2026 Maric’s current contract expires on June 30, 2027, for a job where annual compensation can reach more than $800,000, and the Board of Trustees has yet to vote or discuss an extension of her five-year deal. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026 Instead, check when your current policy expires and set aside time to review your options several weeks beforehand. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026 When those federal subsidies expired at the end of last year, millions saw their monthly premium bills double or even triple — forcing about 3 million people to walk away from their coverage altogether. — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expire
  1. end
  2. exhale
  3. die
  4. release
  5. cease
  6. expel
  7. fall
  8. emit
Verb
  • Rodney Rice had 15 points and nine assists in his first game since a season-ending shoulder injury last year, and KJ Lewis added 10 points.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Mitchell ended the night with 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting on threes and seven assists.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of end
Verb
  • The Valkyries decided to allow the clock to run down and the Dream could exhale.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
  • From Huntsville to Jackson to Atlanta, early confidence gave way to anxious afternoons before teams gave their home crowds a reason to exhale.
    — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhale
Verb
  • At this time Randy Lawson is filling the spot left open after Tommy Boyer died.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Gallagher was elected in June to serve out the term of longtime Northern California congressman Doug LaMalfa, who died suddenly early this year.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of die
Verb
  • In addition to releasing the academic papers, Polson is also scheduled to teach two business classes at the University of Chicago this fall.
    — TODD WALLACK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The county Medical Examiner’s Office is reviving that case and those of four other youths who remain unidentified in death, releasing forensic sketches that may bring new clues forward.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of release
Verb
  • Following months of trying to resolve its conflict with its distributor and shareholder, Tomorrow, Coperni has ceased operations, the brand revealed today.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
  • With instant messaging yet to be invented, 11 am—the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—was chosen to be the time when hostilities would officially cease in order to allow news of the armistice to reach the front lines.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of cease
Verb
  • Zuma resigned as president because of corruption allegations in 2018 and was expelled from the ANC in 2024 for starting his new party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In 1998, after Baghdad expelled UN weapons inspectors, the United States and the United Kingdom bombed Iraq.
    — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of expel
Verb
  • Gouzer is confident that Nara’s auction record will eventually fall.
    — Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Exporters Western Cape, a lobby group, told Ramaphosa before the decision that the province’s exports to the US had already fallen 41% with particularly steep declines in juice, grapes and citrus.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • The researchers designed the paint to emit that radiation at wavelengths that can travel through a relatively transparent part of the atmosphere known as the atmospheric window.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Unlike the real thing, electric fireplaces emit no smoke and leave no messy ashes after use.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of emit

Browse Nearby Words

expirations
expire
expired
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expire. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wabi-sabi

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All