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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: reserve
- to 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: extra
- frugally 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. Compare strike ( def 69 ).
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
- not spare oneselfto exert oneself to the full
- to sparemore 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
Derived Forms
- ˈsparely, adverb
- ˈspareness, noun
- ˈsparer, noun
Other Words From
- spare·a·ble adjective
- spare·ly adverb
- spare·ness noun
- spar·er noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of spare1
Word History and Origins
Origin of spare1
Idioms and Phrases
- to spare
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
President Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden on Sunday, sparing him from a possible prison sentence for federal gun and tax convictions.
Meghani, who also has a fulltime job and does content creation in his spare time, says the awards "shed a light on our dedication and gives us the recognition we deserve".
The elder Biden issued the pardon Sunday, sparing his 54-year-old son from a possible prison sentence for federal gun and tax convictions.
His lawyers had pointed to a plea deal reached in 2023 that would have spared Hunter any prison time.
Now, our devout president can give that Godly gift and spare life.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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