Synonyms of spend

spend

verb

ˈspend 

1

as in to pay

to hand over or use up in payment

I always end up spending too much money at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pay
• give
• expend
• disburse
• lay out
• waste
• outlay
• shell out
• drop
• lavish
• fork (over, out, or up)
• squander
• rain
• throw away
• dissipate
• run through
• blow
• fritter (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• save
• make
• earn
• realize
• acquire
• hoard
• win
• gain
• secure
• procure
• lay up
• cache
• garner

2

as in to consume

to make complete use of

the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January

Synonyms & Similar Words

• consume
• drain
• exhaust
• absorb
• burn
• use
• reduce
• expend
• eat
• deplete
• play out
• use up
• devour
• draw down
• waste
• run out of
• decrease
• empty
• diminish
• downsize
• weaken
• clean (out)
• undermine
• dwindle
• bankrupt
• lessen
• impoverish
• squander
• cripple
• blow
• dry up
• misspend
• lavish
• abate
• disable
• lower
• debilitate
• sap
• guzzle
• throw away
• enfeeble
• dissipate
• run through
• de-escalate
• fritter (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• replace
• increase
• renew
• enforce
• augment
• enlarge
• reinforce
• save
• strengthen
• restore
• preserve
• repair
• rebuild
• conserve
• revive
• bolster
• fortify

3

as in to waste

to use up carelessly

spent all his energy on impractical schemes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• waste
• lose
• lavish
• squander
• misspend
• consume
• throw away
• blow
• dissipate
• run through
• trifle (away)
• splurge
• indulge
• fritter (away)
• expend
• play ducks and drakes with
• fiddle away
• deplete
• exhaust
• impoverish
• disburse
• overspend
• shoot
• overindulge
• lay out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserve
• save
• economize
• protect
• preserve
• skimp
• scrimp
• hoard
• lay up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spend

The friends haven’t seen each other in some time, though Frankie spends many an evening parked outside the hospice in his car, summoning the gumption to visit. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

William James Middle is part of Fort Worth ISD’s new Elevate Network instructional model, which emphasizes a consistent routine to maximize time students spend learning, district officials have said. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2026

Polk County investigators spent tens of thousands of hours working to pursue a conviction in the Weldon case, Judd said. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Homero Calderón used to spend his days training at the gym and on the soccer pitch. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026