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Synonyms

expend

American  
[ik-spend] / ɪkˈspɛnd /

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 British  
/ ɪkˈspɛnd /

verb

  1. to spend; disburse

  2. to consume or use up

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See spend.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of expend

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

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.

Privately funded science can be controversial, but OceanX notes that its research is all publicly accessible, and it partners with government and institutions often unable to expend their limited resources on marine science.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

That would be a July 4 fireworks display compared with what U.S. forces would expend in a Pacific confrontation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

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.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

However other research suggests drinking cold water might temporarily boost metabolism, as the body needs to expend energy to warm it up to body temperature.

From Salon • Sep. 3, 2024

I could set the temperature of the Hab higher than normal, meaning my body would expend less energy keeping its temperature.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir