spend

verb

ˈspend How to pronounce spend (audio)
spent ˈspent How to pronounce spend (audio) ; spending
Synonyms of spendnext

transitive verb

1
: to use up or pay out : expend
2
a
: exhaust, wear out
the hurricane gradually spent itself
b
: to consume wastefully : squander
… the waters are not ours to spend.—J. R. Ellis
3
: to cause or permit to elapse : pass
spend the night
4
: give up, sacrifice

intransitive verb

1
: to expend or waste wealth or strength
2
: to become expended or consumed
3
: to have an orgasm
spendable
ˈspen-də-bəl How to pronounce spend (audio)
adjective
spender noun

Synonyms of spend

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Examples of spend in a Sentence

I spent $30 on his birthday gift. They spend a lot on clothes and cars. I want to buy a new car, but I don't have much money to spend. Her willingness to spend freely made her popular among her friends. He spends lavishly on vacations. I spent my summer at the beach. She spent eight months living in New York City. Relaxing with friends is a great way to spend a weekend. Our cat spends most of his time sleeping. Too much of my time is spent arguing with customers.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Or spending a day bouncing in the waves on a Caribbean island or on Florida’s Gulf Coast. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026 The city has long relied on tourists from neighboring states and countries with disposable income to spend freely. — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 An adjusted cap wouldn’t simply benefit bigger-spending clubs, though. — John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The Azizuddin Brothers have spent the better part of a decade making work that sidesteps genre convention and mainstream expectation. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spend

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English -spendan, from Medieval Latin expendere to disburse, use up, from Latin, to measure by weight, pay out — more at expend

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spend was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing spend

Rhymes for spend

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Browse Nearby Words

Spencer roll
spend
spendable
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Cite this Entry

“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spend. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

spend

verb
ˈspend How to pronounce spend (audio)
spent ˈspent How to pronounce spend (audio) ; spending
1
: to pay out : expend
2
: to cause or allow (as time) to pass
spent the day with friends
3
a
: exhaust entry 1 sense 1, wear out
b
: to use wastefully : squander
spender noun

More from Merriam-Webster on spend

Nglish: Translation of spend for Spanish Speakers

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