spend
verb (used with object)
to pay out, disburse, or expend; dispose of (money, wealth, resources, etc.).
have spent
-
present perfectof spend.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 Sparks have spent several years rebuilding since missing the playoffs in 2021.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Physicists have spent decades trying to combine these frameworks into a single description of nature.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
Germany was engaged in a necessary catch-up, he said, noting that it would have spent an additional $400 billion on defense since 1990 if it had met NATO’s spending target of 2% of economic output.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
Yes, you probably would have spent less on monthly premiums had you taken out this insurance policy in your 40s, but you would also have been paying it for a decade.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Lunchtime would have been the best time of day if I could have spent it with Betsie.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
