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

If his workload is limited in any way this year, the Cubs might as well use him in the majors rather than expend those innings with Triple-A Iowa. —Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025

Lamont vetoed the plan but later compromised with the legislature and accepted an accounting gimmick that still expended the funds after first moving them outside of the formal budget, effectively circumventing the cap. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025

This deception worked with Russian forces expending expensive Lancet munitions to destroy it. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Sleeping More Calories are burned naturally during sleep as the body expends energy to maintain proper function throughout the night. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 26 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

Rhymes for expend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

expend

verb

ex·​pend ik-ˈspend 

1

: to pay out : spend

expend state funds

2

: use up

expend energy