Advertisement
Advertisement
spare
[spair]
verb (used with object)
to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy.
to spare one's enemy.
to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for.
His harsh criticism spared no one.
to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it: to spare her needless embarrassment.
to spare him the bother;
to spare her needless embarrassment.
to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech.
Spare us the gory details.
to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse.
to spare the rod.
to set aside for a particular purpose.
to spare land for a garden.
Synonyms: reserveto give or lend, as from a supply, especially without inconvenience or loss: Can you spare me a dollar till payday?
Can you spare a cup of sugar?
Can you spare me a dollar till payday?
to dispense with or do without.
We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.
to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting.
A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!
to have remaining as excess or surplus.
We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.
verb (used without object)
to use economy; be frugal.
to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.
Obsolete., to refrain from action; forbear.
adjective
kept in reserve, as for possible use.
a spare part.
being in excess of present need; free for other use.
How do you like to relax in your spare time?
My travel adventures seem to soak up any spare cash I earn.
Synonyms: extrafrugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet.
a spare regime.
lean or thin, as a person.
scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.
economical, moderate, or temperate, as persons; sparing.
noun
a spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.
Ceramics., an area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.
Bowling.
the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.
a score so made.
spare
/ spɛə /
verb
(tr) to refrain from killing, punishing, harming, or injuring
(tr) to release or relieve, as from pain, suffering, etc
(tr) to refrain from using
spare the rod, spoil the child
(tr) to be able to afford or give
I can't spare the time
(usually passive) (esp of Providence) to allow to survive
I'll see you again next year if we are spared
rare, (intr) to act or live frugally
rare, (intr) to show mercy
to exert oneself to the full
more than is required
two minutes to spare
adjective
(often immediately postpositive) in excess of what is needed; additional
are there any seats spare?
able to be used when needed
a spare part
(of a person) thin and lean
scanty or meagre
slang, (postpositive) upset, angry, or distracted (esp in the phrase go spare )
noun
a duplicate kept as a replacement in case of damage or loss
a spare tyre
tenpin bowling
the act of knocking down all the pins with the two bowls of a single frame
the score thus made Compare strike
Other Word Forms
- sparely adverb
- spareness noun
- sparer noun
- spareable adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of spare1
Word History and Origins
Origin of spare1
Idioms and Phrases
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Her unbeaten 37 off 29 deliveries guided her side home with three balls to spare.
Hogg, who joined Exeter from Glasgow in 2019, was spared jail time when sentenced in Selkirk Sheriff Court in January and was instead ordered to complete a community payback order with one year of supervision.
The Three Lions would qualify for next summer's World Cup with two matches to spare by beating Latvia.
Perry had retired earlier in her innings with cramp but came back to finish the job and whacked a six off Rana to get Australia over the line with six balls to spare.
Defending champions Australia chased down a mammoth 331 to beat India by three wickets with an over to spare in a pulsating Women's World Cup clash in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
