spare

[ spair ]
See synonyms for: sparesparedsparingspareness on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),spared, spar·ing.
  1. to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy: to spare one's enemy.

  2. to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for: His harsh criticism spared no one.

  1. to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it: to spare him the bother;to spare her needless embarrassment.

  2. to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech: Spare us the gory details.

  3. to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse: to spare the rod.

  4. to set aside for a particular purpose: to spare land for a garden.

  5. to give or lend, as from a supply, especially without inconvenience or loss: Can you spare a cup of sugar?Can you spare me a dollar till payday?

  6. to dispense with or do without: We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.

  7. to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting: A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!

  8. to have remaining as excess or surplus: We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.

verb (used without object),spared, spar·ing.
  1. to use economy; be frugal.

  2. to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.

  1. Obsolete. to refrain from action; forbear.

adjective,spar·er, spar·est.
  1. kept in reserve, as for possible use: a spare part.

  2. 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.

  1. frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet: a spare regime.

  2. lean or thin, as a person.

  3. scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.

  4. economical, moderate, or temperate, as persons; sparing.

noun
  1. a spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.

  2. Ceramics. an area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.

  1. Bowling.

    • the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.

    • a score so made.: Compare strike (def. 69).

Origin of spare

1
First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English sparen,Old English sparian; cognate with Dutch, German sparen,Old Norse spara; (noun and adjective) Middle English; compare Old English spær “sparing, frugal” (cognate with Old High German spar,Old Norse sparr

synonym study For spare

17. See thin.

Other words for spare

Other words from spare

  • spare·a·ble, adjective
  • spare·ly, adverb
  • spare·ness, noun
  • spar·er, noun

Words Nearby spare

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use spare in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spare

spare

/ (spɛə) /


verb
  1. (tr) to refrain from killing, punishing, harming, or injuring

  2. (tr) to release or relieve, as from pain, suffering, etc

  1. (tr) to refrain from using: spare the rod, spoil the child

  2. (tr) to be able to afford or give: I can't spare the time

  3. (usually passive) (esp of Providence) to allow to survive: I'll see you again next year if we are spared

  4. (intr) rare to act or live frugally

  5. (intr) rare to show mercy

  6. not spare oneself to exert oneself to the full

  7. to spare more than is required: two minutes to spare

adjective
  1. (often immediately postpositive) in excess of what is needed; additional: are there any seats spare?

  2. able to be used when needed: a spare part

  1. (of a person) thin and lean

  2. scanty or meagre

  3. (postpositive) British slang upset, angry, or distracted (esp in the phrase go spare)

noun
  1. a duplicate kept as a replacement in case of damage or loss

  2. a spare tyre

  1. tenpin bowling

    • the act of knocking down all the pins with the two bowls of a single frame

    • the score thus made: Compare strike (def. 40)

Origin of spare

1
Old English sparian to refrain from injuring; related to Old Norse spara, Old High German sparōn

Derived forms of spare

  • sparely, adverb
  • spareness, noun
  • sparer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with spare

spare

In addition to the idioms beginning with spare

  • spare the rod and spoil the child
  • spare tire

also see:

  • to spare

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.