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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.

And — perhaps most importantly — how much energy do you actually have to expend?

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2026

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

Like anyone who runs cold, I expend a good deal of energy avoiding it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

"I would like to take a moment and expend our deepest condolences to people who lost loved ones in this tragedy," she said.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2025

People wanted to think you were so okay with it all so they wouldn’t have to expend any energy feeling guilty.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray