expend

verb

ik-ˈspend How to pronounce expend (audio)
Definition of expendnext
1
as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment redecoration will have to wait, since we've just expended our last dollar in buying the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to consume
to make complete use of settlers had to be sure not to expend their supply of firewood before the end of the long winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expend Pacific Legal argued this was part of the problem — a private group of unelected activists had repeatedly forced others to expend resources defending themselves. — Michael Phillis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 The first-stage booster made its 32nd and final flight as it was expended getting the payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Houston was content to slow the tempo, string together passes and force Sporting to expend energy trying to win the ball back. — Latif Love august 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026 Antiquing is usually a more expensive hobby, in part because of the time and effort that dealers have expended curating their items for sale. — Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for expend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expend
  1. spend
  2. consume
  3. pay
  4. drain
  5. exhaust
  6. absorb
Verb
  • Robert spent the prior six years with Chicago, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023, his best season and lone All-Star appearance.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • While higher earners had been spending more using credit cards, the institute said the gap across income classes began narrowing in May of this year.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • Participants are each given half a watermelon to eat in a specified time period, and they must be consumed down to the rind.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • That figure assumes the vehicle consumes 100 watt-hours per mile and its solar panels deliver at least four kWh of usable energy to the battery during the day.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of consume
Verb
  • Swift also paid tribute to Parton’s prolific and breathtaking body of work and her philanthropic efforts across the globe.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Connie Britton paid tribute to Dolly Parton, less than two weeks after the loss of her Nashville costar Hayden Panettiere.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pay
Verb
  • In your audit, emergency reserves are separated from non-retirement assets because they should not ever be drained unless there is an emergency.
    — Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Then, crews from the Urban Search and Rescue team worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to drain the tank and help save the remaining bears from drowning, officials said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Your eyes will thank you College students often fall asleep without removing their contacts, especially when exhausted from late-night studying or over-intoxicated from partying.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Qualifying members who exhaust their income protection will now be covered up until May 1, 2028, Gee said.
    — Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Heating rice briefly in butter or oil before adding water or broth helps develop a subtle nutty flavor, while also improving how the grains cook and absorb liquid.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Consider how much your payment could increase and whether your budget could comfortably absorb the difference.
    — Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of absorb

Browse Nearby Words

expels
expend
expended
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expend. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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