expire

verb

ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(-ə)r 

usually for intransitive sense 3 and transitive sense 2 ek-

expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1

: to breathe one's last breath : die

2

: to come to an end: such as

a

: to exceed its period of validity

The contract will expire next month.

b

: to pass its expiration date (see expiration date sense 2)

This milk has expired.

" … when drugs expire, you can't just leave these things lying around."

—Ed Haislmaier

3

: to emit the breath

transitive verb

1

obsolete : conclude

2

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

3

archaic : emit

Synonyms of expire

• end
• cease
• stop
• conclude
• halt
• terminate
• pass
• die

Examples of expire in a Sentence

My driver's license has expired.

She expired after a long illness.

measuring the volume of air expired from the lungs

Recent Examples on the Web

The last nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States expired in February, removing caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. — Arkansas Online, 15 Nov. 2026

But the fight over what constitutes adequate funding is expected to reappear in the spring as the current funding formula is set to expire in July, requiring a new funding outline for years to come. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 15 Nov. 2026

Massie has pledged to force a vote before his congressional term expires in January, although a specific date has not been announced. — Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2026

But that expansion was allowed to expire, and the child poverty rate went back up sharply. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Anglo-French espirer to breathe out, from Latin exspirare, from ex- + spirare to breathe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for expire

• admire
• afire
• aspire
• backfire
• esquire
• haywire
• hellfire
• inquire
• inspire
• newswire
• perspire
• rehire

Kids Definition

expire

verb

ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(ə)r 

usually for sense 3 ek-

expired; expiring

1

: to breathe one's last breath : die

2

: to come to an end : be no longer in force

this offer expires March 1

my driver's license has expired

3

a

: to let the breath out

b

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

Medical Definition

expire

verb

ex·​pire

ik-ˈspī(ə)r, usually for vi 2 and vt ek-

expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1

: to breathe one's last breath : die

2

: to emit the breath

transitive verb

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

the basal metabolism test … measures the amount of carbon dioxide expired by the lungs

—J. D. Ratcliff