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

Steyer — a liberal climate fighter — has run an energetic campaign, spending more than $100 million of his own money on TV ads. —Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026

The couple had spent the past decade sailing together, launching their Instagram account in April 2023. —Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026

Their son spends some of his free time practicing on his cello or piano, while their daughter takes Scottish dance classes. —Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2026

The former four-star recruit spent two years at Mississippi State before transferring to Waco. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026