expend

[ik-spend]

verb (used with object)

1. to use up.

   She expended energy, time, and care on her work.

   Synonyms: empty, consume

2. to pay out; disburse; spend.

expend

/ ɪkˈspɛnd /

verb

1. to spend; disburse

2. to consume or use up

Other Word Forms

• expender noun
• overexpend verb
• preexpend verb (used with object)
• unexpended adjective
• well-expended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expend¹

1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin expendere “to weigh out, lay out, pay”

Word History and Origins

Origin of expend¹

C15: from Latin expendere, from pendere to weigh

Synonym Study

See spend.

Example Sentences

"Excessive cold activates compensatory regulatory mechanisms in the animals' bodies, causing them to expend more energy to stay warm. This can mask the real effects of any substance," explains the researcher.

Read more on Science Daily

You would expect Talling to be tasked with combating the brilliance of De Goede, with her work at mauls a potential way to expend some of the Canadian's energy.

Read more on BBC

Congress had enacted byzantine eligibility requirements for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, forcing the agency to expend huge amounts of time and money running those programs.

Read more on Salon

Two shooting drill stations were created at training but the gap between them was widened so more energy was expended to get between the two.

Read more on BBC

The Swiss pharmaceutical company is a big spender in Washington, D.C. where it expended more than $10.7 million on federal lobbying expenses last year.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• ante up 
• consume 
• disburse 
• dispense 
• dissipate 
• put out 
• use up