1
as in to pay
to hand over or use up in payment
I always end up spending too much money at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to consume
to make complete use of
the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to waste
to use up carelessly
spent all his energy on impractical schemes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spend
Alberto served 16 years in prison for human-rights abuses and Keiko spent years under investigation over campaign financing allegations, which were dropped last year.
—
Reuters,
NBC news,
4 July 2026
As the United States turns 250 years old, Americans across the country are spending the holiday thinking about what the big birthday means to them, with reflections and celebrations as diverse as the nation itself.
—
Susan Bence,
NPR,
4 July 2026
Howard qualified as a mechanic and spent five years working for Audi in Cork, fitting practice and tournaments around the demands of a full-time job and reached a plus-two handicap.
—
Amelie Claydon,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
The origins of Gymshark can be traced back to 2012, when Francis was still a teenager, studying by day at Birmingham’s Aston University, delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut at night and spending his free time at the gym.
—
Robert Olsen,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for spend
Reuters,
NBC news,
4 July 2026
As the United States turns 250 years old, Americans across the country are spending the holiday thinking about what the big birthday means to them, with reflections and celebrations as diverse as the nation itself.
—
Susan Bence,
NPR,
4 July 2026
Howard qualified as a mechanic and spent five years working for Audi in Cork, fitting practice and tournaments around the demands of a full-time job and reached a plus-two handicap.
—
Amelie Claydon,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
The origins of Gymshark can be traced back to 2012, when Francis was still a teenager, studying by day at Birmingham’s Aston University, delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut at night and spending his free time at the gym.
—
Robert Olsen,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for spend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spend
Verb
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The goal is to brighten—not shrink or damage—your fabrics, so pay special attention to heat sensitivity and fiber type.
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In California, drivers pay some of the highest prices in the country.
Verb
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Certain people should be especially mindful about consuming chocolate chips.
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Some blooms can be consumed or mixed into elixirs, bringing aesthetic charm, subtle flavor, and wellness benefits to your dishes and routine.
Verb
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Colombia wasted no time imposing itself on the Portugal defense, taking two shots in the opening minutes, the first a header by Cordoba after a Diaz shot was deflected, and another by Rodriguez that went wide.
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Simply wrap your hair around the flexible rod, go to sleep, and wake up with a head full of curls without wasting time getting ready.
Verb
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When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
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Officials advise the public to give bears space and not let pets bother them.
Verb
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Several environmental groups have also proposed removing or entirely bypassing the Glen Canyon Dam, draining what's left into Lake Mead, and implementing stricter water conservation measures.
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The president said that his administration would have to drain the pool and start over again as the new liner shed chunks of itself.
Verb
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The Padres, meanwhile, have lost six straight and given up 66 runs over the last six days, the most in such a span in franchise history.
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But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.
Verb
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In the finals, Israel faced an Australian team already exhausted after fending off South Korea, Japan and Rhodesia (itself in the Asian tournament after being banned in Africa over its white governing regime).
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For years, people have been frustrated and exhausted by the seemingly endless amount of swiping and small talk that go nowhere on dating apps.
Verb
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Often, firming lotions are thick and leave a white cast, but this Olay option, which more than 30,000 buyers have picked up in the past month alone, is lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs quickly.
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For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.
Cite this Entry
“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spend. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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