spare
verb (used with object)
to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy.
have spared
-
present perfectof spare.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
The Mirror says the adjusted match time would have spared England fans an all-nighter.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
And soon I’d learn something even more sobering: If this technology had been around three decades ago, it might have spared my mom a surgery and some treatments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
State policies have spared school districts from the full immediate impact of a funding loss tied to decreasing enrollment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026
If Farrell had him in mind for a bench spot on Saturday wouldn't he have spared him a full game of attrition against such a hard-hitting opponent?
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2025
But rather than give the testimony that might have spared her life, he fled to Canada after the assassination, where he followed the news of his mother’s trial and execution.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
