spend

To use money to pay for something.

• Don't spend all your money.
• She spent ten dollars on lunch.
• How much do you spend on food each week?

How to use it: spend money on something (I spend very little money on clothes.)

Similar words: pay out

Opposites: save

Common phrases: spend money, spend on something, spend too much

To use a period of time for an activity or in a particular place.

• We spend Sundays together.
• She spent two hours cooking dinner.
• Where will you spend your summer holiday?

How to use it: spend time doing something (He spends an hour reading every evening.); spend time with someone (I spent the afternoon with my aunt.); spend time in/at somewhere (We spent a week in Rome.)

Similar words: pass

Common phrases: spend time, spend the weekend, spend time together

To use up all the strength or force of someone or something.

• The storm had spent its force.
• He spent all his strength fighting the current.
• Her anger spent itself in a long burst of tears.

How to use it: spend itself (The storm spent itself against the cliffs.)

Similar words: exhaust, use up, deplete

Opposites: replenish

Common phrases: spend its force, spend someone's strength, spend itself

To become used up or gradually disappear through use.

• The candle spends away as it burns.
• Their strength spent away during the long struggle.
• The oil spent slowly in the lamp.

Similar words: dwindle, wear away

Common phrases: spend away, spend with use

The amount of money used for a particular purpose or during a particular period.

• Our advertising spend is too high.
• The company reduced its annual spend on travel.
• Average spend per customer rose this month.

How to use it: spend on something (Our spend on advertising has increased.)

Similar words: spending, expenditure, outlay

Common phrases: advertising spend, annual spend, spend on something