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

Skilled Photoshop artists spent years mastering masking, selections and retouching techniques, only to watch AI remove a complex background with a single click. — New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026

While past British leaders have spent weekends in their local constituencies, or at the prime minister’s official Chequers country retreat, none in living memory has had a large-scale office outside London. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

Long days were spent cleaning, drawing and waiting for customers during slow periods, all while mastering a craft that permanently alters another person’s body. — Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Interest groups play an outsize role in national elections, politicians spend their time on calls with wealthy donors instead of meeting constituents and parties increasingly focus on themselves rather than average Americans. — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026