expire
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to come to an end; terminate, as a contract, guarantee, or offer.
-
to emit the last breath; die.
-
to breathe out.
-
to die out, as a fire.
verb (used with object)
-
to breathe out; emit (air) from the lungs.
-
Archaic. to give off, emit, or eject.
verb
-
(intr) to finish or run out; cease; come to an end
-
to breathe out (air); exhale
-
(intr) to die
Other Word Forms
- expirer noun
- expiringly adverb
- nonexpiring adjective
- unexpired adjective
- unexpiring adjective
Etymology
Origin of expire
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin ex ( s ) pīrāre to breathe out, equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + spīrāre to breathe
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
New START, the last nuclear treaty between Washington and Moscow after decades of agreements dating to the Cold War, is set to expire, and with it restrictions on the two top nuclear powers.
From Barron's
Union members are currently working under the terms of a contract that expired on June 30, 2025 so the first year’s raise would apply retroactively to the current school year.
From Los Angeles Times
The House of Representatives was out of session as the deadline expired and is not scheduled to return until Monday.
From Barron's
The new board members will succeed Kara Stein and Tony Thompson, whose terms were set to expire Oct.
A contract was settled after a 148-day work stoppage, but it’s set to expire on May 1.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
