expire

[ ik-spahyuhr ]

verb (used without object)

, ex·pired, ex·pir·ing.

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)

, ex·pired, ex·pir·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• exˈpirer, noun

Other Words From

• ex·pirer noun
• ex·piring·ly adverb
• nonex·piring adjective
• unex·pired adjective
• unex·piring 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

The $300 weekly enhanced unemployment benefit replaces the $600 enhanced benefit that expired the week ending July 25.

From Fortune

He remembers watching birds expire in midair as they flew from one side of the plant to the other.

From MIT Technology Review

No one is getting that $600 payment right now, though, since it expired at the end of July and Congress is still deadlocked over whether to extend it.

From FiveThirtyEight

America and Russia updated that treaty when it was to expire in 2009.

From Ozy

Expanded unemployment benefits keeping the economy turning over expire on July 31, one-time checks to families are long spent, and there is still no coordinated federal plan to test for the coronavirus.

From Quartz

Higher courts, including the Supreme Court had refused to intercede, and the stay was to expire tonight.

From The Daily Beast

Last year, it let an unemployment extension for the long-term jobless expire during the holidays.

From The Daily Beast

The temporary reduction of Social Security payroll taxes was allowed to expire in early 2013.

From The Daily Beast

Those negotiations are set to expire at the end of November.

From The Daily Beast

First, they let the stimulus boost expire, which that meant an average family of three receiving benefits lost $29 per month.

From The Daily Beast

When a lease is about to expire a difficult question sometimes arises, what can the tenant take away with him?

From Project Gutenberg

He begged me to follow him: “I may die under the knife, and I should wish, in that case, to expire in your arms.”

From Project Gutenberg

The act which was passed at that time for imposing a tax upon income will shortly expire.

From Project Gutenberg

The conquered remain on the battlefield, nearly broken in two, and feebly waving their paws, till they slowly expire in agonies.

From Project Gutenberg

The colonists looked anxiously to 1764 when the odious act would expire by limitation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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