expire

[ik-spahyuhr]

verb (used without object)

expired, expiring 

1. to come to an end; terminate, as a contract, guarantee, or offer.

2. to emit the last breath; die.

3. to breathe out.

4. to die out, as a fire.

verb (used with object)

expired, expiring 

1. to breathe out; emit (air) from the lungs.

2. Archaic.,  to give off, emit, or eject.

expire

/ ɪkˈspaɪə /

verb

1. (intr) to finish or run out; cease; come to an end

2. to breathe out (air); exhale

3. (intr) to die

Other Word Forms

• expirer noun
• expiringly adverb
• nonexpiring adjective
• unexpired adjective
• unexpiring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expire¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin ex ( s ) pīrāre to breathe out, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + spīrāre to breathe

Word History and Origins

Origin of expire¹

C15: from Old French expirer, from Latin exspīrāre to breathe out, from spīrāre to breathe

Example Sentences

In 2015, Congress authorized California’s program through a highway funding bill, but that authorization expired Sept. 30.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When Habba’s temporary term was set to expire this summer, her district’s judges chose her deputy to lead the office instead.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The licenses were canceled, the DMV said, because they were set to expire after the time the migrants were legally allowed to remain in the U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The president is also set to name his chosen successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May, sometime in the next few weeks.

Read more on Barron's

The tax credit expired on Sept. 30, which led to a surge of EV buying to get the federal subsidy while it lasted.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cease 
• close 
• conclude 
• depart 
• die 
• finish 
• lapse 
• pass 
• pass away 
• quit 
• run out 
• terminate