spare

[ spair ]

/ spɛər /

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See synonyms for: spare / spared / sparing / spareness on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), spared, spar·ing.

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 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.

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?

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), spared, spar·ing.

to use economy; be frugal.

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

Obsolete. to refrain from action; forbear.

adjective, spar·er, spar·est.

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.

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).

OTHER WORDS FOR spare

6 reserve.

15 extra.

See synonyms for spare on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of spare

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 FROM spare

spare·a·ble, adjectivespare·ly, adverbspare·ness, nounspar·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spare in a sentence

He hardly spares any codified religion from his angry denunciations, including Orthodoxy.
Frank Schaeffer, the Atheist Who Believes in God|Nick Tabor|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They have the right to demand either execution or “blood money,” a hefty ransom that spares the life of the accused.
Iran to Hang Abused Child Bride|Nina Strochlic|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The denouement itself appropriates the theme of the huntsman who spares the child he is obliged to kill.
Holocaust Horrors Haunt the Films ‘Ida’ And ‘The German Doctor’|Jack Schwartz|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like a great tabloid headline, The Adventuress by N.D. Coleridge promises a lurid story that spares no detail.
This Week’s Hot Reads: May 28, 2013|Jen Vafidis|May 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

He objectifies every woman without fail, and spares his audience no thought that goes through his head.
This Week’s Hot Reads: February 25, 2013|G. Clay Whittaker|February 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I have helped the Indians in several salvages and I learned then that a little precaution often spares one many perils.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
He supped with me; but a cunning, crafty fellow he is, and dangerous to displease, for his tongue spares nobody.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys
It is planted with potatoes, but the plough spares the spot on which was once his gallows and his grave.
Notes and Queries, Number 218, December 31, 1853|Various
They say he never spares an enemy, and that he eats the flesh of those he kills.
The Lion's Brood|Duffield Osborne
Germany also spares no effort, although Brazil attracts still more attention.
Argentina|W. A. Hirst

British Dictionary definitions for spare

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 usingspare the rod, spoil the child

(tr) to be able to afford or giveI can't spare the time

(usually passive) (esp of Providence) to allow to surviveI'll see you again next year if we are spared

(intr) rare to act or live frugally

(intr) rare to show mercy

not spare oneself to exert oneself to the full

to spare more than is requiredtwo minutes to spare

adjective

(often immediately postpositive) in excess of what is needed; additionalare there any seats spare?

able to be used when neededa spare part

(of a person) thin and lean

scanty or meagre

(postpositive) British slang 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 madeCompare strike (def. 40)

Derived forms of spare

sparely, adverbspareness, nounsparer, noun

Word Origin for spare

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

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

spare

OTHER WORDS FOR spare

Origin of spare

synonym study for spare

OTHER WORDS FROM spare

Words related to spare

How to use spare in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spare

Derived forms of spare

Word Origin for spare

Other Idioms and Phrases with spare