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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to waste
to use up carelessly
spent all his energy on impractical schemes
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 spend
Summer hosting season means a lot more time spent occupying your outdoor space, and the best patio umbrellas meet the occasion by gently offering respite against the blazing sun.
—
Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 6 June 2025
After spending close to $300 million to return Trump to the White House, Musk was poised to have a major role in the administration and be in position to push through regulatory changes in ways that benefited his companies.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Smith has spent the past 15 years actively involved in criminal justice reform in Kentucky, Tennessee and countries in Central America.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The actor-writer-director, who is 31 and uses they/she pronouns, has spent the last decade or so as a niche internet presence, going viral periodically on Twitter (and then X) and TikTok with satirical front-facing videos and bone-dry one-liners.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spend
Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 6 June 2025
After spending close to $300 million to return Trump to the White House, Musk was poised to have a major role in the administration and be in position to push through regulatory changes in ways that benefited his companies.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Smith has spent the past 15 years actively involved in criminal justice reform in Kentucky, Tennessee and countries in Central America.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
The actor-writer-director, who is 31 and uses they/she pronouns, has spent the last decade or so as a niche internet presence, going viral periodically on Twitter (and then X) and TikTok with satirical front-facing videos and bone-dry one-liners.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spend
Verb
-
While Keisha’s mom struggles to pay her child’s private school tuition, Justin’s mom casually wears a Vivienne Westwood suit or a Zimmermann ensemble.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
-
That work has given him enough money to pay for car insurance and other expenses, but not enough to move out from his parents’ home.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Endless arguments could consume tons of precious computing cycles.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Recipes for everything from ceviche mixto with popcorn (!) to flan to sweet plantains are sure to delight, and the book’s chatty, convivial tone is likely to linger in your mind long after the meal has been consumed and the dreaded dinner dishes are done.—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
One in 4 children under age 5 is stunted, and 8 percent are wasted, with limited access to treatment, according to UNICEF.—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
In a one-scene cameo, Kyle MacLachlan represents the tough-love alternative as Kate’s exasperated ex-husband, who’s ready to throw in the towel, but agrees to write one last check — well aware his daughter will find some way to waste it.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
The Dodgers have sent Clayton Kershaw to the mound to give a slumping team a lift countless times during his 18-year career.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
This might look like suggesting a loose menu or theme ahead of time to give your guests some direction on what to bring, setting the table, and perhaps taking care of the main dish or drinks.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Reserve forward Obi Toppin helped swing the game, draining five 3s off the bench.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
6 June 2025
-
These unnecessary burdens slow them down, drain their energy, and keep them from reaching their next level.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Rosado, 52, is an urban planner and former North Bay Village manager who previously ran for the District 4 seat in 2017, losing to Reyes.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
-
Water depth - The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
The visa expired in February 2023, but Soliman has not exhausted legal efforts to remain in the U.S., according to NBC.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
-
The object could be a white dwarf—an Earth-sized husk that remains after a star has exhausted its nuclear fuel.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Some heavy metals are introduced through fertilizers and insecticides, while other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and are absorbed by plants.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
-
Many like Scooch are absorbing costs to maintain delivery schedules and customer trust. TeeTurtle, which manufactures over 80% of its product line in China, chose not to cancel or delay orders despite the tight margins.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spend. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share