expend

verb

ex·​pend ik-ˈspend 

expended; expending; expends

transitive verb

1

: to pay out : spend

the social services upon which public revenue is expended

—J. A. Hobson

2

: to make use of for a specific purpose : utilize

projects on which they expended great energy

also : use up

expender noun

Synonyms

• disburse
• drop
• fork (over, out, or up)
• give
• lay out
• outlay
• pay
• shell out
• spend

Examples of expend in a Sentence

Are we willing to expend the time and resources required to solve the problem?

redecoration will have to wait, since we've just expended our last dollar in buying the house

Recent Examples on the Web

Both organizations have also expended considerable resources combating the CCP, even earning formal sanctions from the Chinese government over their support of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. —Robert Schmad, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 Feb. 2025

One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion. —Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025

Good luck with that: on their own, workers would have to expend their personal resources against the vast resources of the United States. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

The extensive planning required for coordinated efforts can also be at odds with short-term political cycles, with politicians reluctant to expend political capital and money on projects that will come to fruition after their terms end. —Alice Hill, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin expendere to weigh out, expend, from ex- + pendere to weigh — more at spin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

expend

verb

ex·​pend ik-ˈspend 

1

: to pay out : spend

expend state funds

2

: use up

expend energy