B2 verb Neutral

waste

/weɪst/

To use or expend resources such as time, money, or energy carelessly, extravagantly, or for no useful purpose. It implies that a valuable resource has been lost or used ineffectively when it could have been saved or used better.

Ejemplos

3 de 5
1

I wasted the whole afternoon browsing social media instead of finishing my report.

I spent the entire afternoon on social media uselessly rather than completing my work.

2

The audit revealed that the organization had wasted significant capital on redundant software licenses.

The review showed that the company lost a lot of money on unnecessary software permissions.

3

Don't waste your breath trying to explain it to him; he never listens.

Do not bother talking because it is a useless effort since he does not pay attention.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
waste
Verb
waste
Adverbio
wastefully
Adjetivo
wasteful
Relacionado
wastage
💡

Truco para recordar

Think of the 'E' at the end of WASTE standing for 'Empty'—when you waste something, you end up with nothing left for your effort.

Quiz rápido

If you buy that expensive car and never drive it, you will simply ____ your money.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: waste

Ejemplos

1

I wasted the whole afternoon browsing social media instead of finishing my report.

everyday

I spent the entire afternoon on social media uselessly rather than completing my work.

2

The audit revealed that the organization had wasted significant capital on redundant software licenses.

formal

The review showed that the company lost a lot of money on unnecessary software permissions.

3

Don't waste your breath trying to explain it to him; he never listens.

informal

Do not bother talking because it is a useless effort since he does not pay attention.

4

Scholars argue that failing to cite previous research can waste valuable time in the scientific process.

academic

Academic experts say not referencing earlier work results in a loss of time for scientific progress.

5

We must optimize our supply chain so we do not waste resources during the manufacturing phase.

business

We need to improve our logistics to avoid losing materials during production.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
waste
Verb
waste
Adverbio
wastefully
Adjetivo
wasteful
Relacionado
wastage

Colocaciones comunes

waste time to use time unproductively
waste money to spend money on things that are not needed
waste an opportunity to fail to take advantage of a good chance
waste energy to exert effort with no result
waste resources to use materials or staff inefficiently

Frases Comunes

waste not, want not

if you use things wisely, you will not be in need later

go to waste

to be discarded without being used

a waste of space

something or someone that is completely useless

Se confunde a menudo con

waste vs waist

Waist refers to the part of the body between the ribs and hips, whereas waste refers to useless consumption.

waste vs spend

Spend is neutral and just means to use money/time; waste is negative and means to use it badly.

📝

Notas de uso

The verb is frequently followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) or the preposition 'on'. For example: 'waste time watching TV' or 'waste money on clothes'.

⚠️

Errores comunes

Learners often use 'waste' for neutral situations where 'spend' is more appropriate. Also, avoid saying 'make waste'; the verb itself is 'to waste'.

💡

Truco para recordar

Think of the 'E' at the end of WASTE standing for 'Empty'—when you waste something, you end up with nothing left for your effort.

📖

Origen de la palabra

Derived from the Old French 'gaster', meaning to spoil or ruin, which comes from the Latin 'vastus', meaning empty or desolate.

Patrones gramaticales

waste + [object] + on + [noun] waste + [object] + [verb-ing] transitive verb usage
🌍

Contexto cultural

In many industrialized cultures, there is a strong social stigma against 'wasting time' due to the cultural emphasis on productivity and 'time is money'.

Quiz rápido

If you buy that expensive car and never drive it, you will simply ____ your money.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: waste

Palabras relacionadas

principled

C2

Acting in accordance with morality and high standards of behavior. It describes a person or an action guided by a strict set of values and integrity rather than by personal gain or convenience.

analytical

C1

Relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning to understand something by breaking it down into its constituent parts. It describes a systematic approach to problem-solving and the ability to evaluate information critically.

approach

C1

A systematic way of dealing with something or a specific perspective taken when addressing a problem or task. It can also refer to the physical act of moving nearer to someone or something in distance or time.

authorize

C1

To grant official permission or legal power to someone to perform a specific action or to allow something to happen. It typically involves a formal process or a person in a position of authority validating a request or procedure.

beneficial

B2

Beneficial describes something that has a good effect or promotes well-being. It is frequently used in formal or academic contexts to highlight the advantages or positive outcomes of a specific action, substance, or situation.

consistent

C2

The quality of achieving a level of performance which does not vary over time, or the state of being coherent and not contradictory in logical or behavioral terms. Physically, it refers to the degree of thickness, firmness, or viscosity found in a substance.

constitutional

C2

Relating to the fundamental principles or established laws that govern a state or organization. It can also refer to an individual's physical health or inherent temperament.

contextual

B2

Relating to the circumstances or setting in which something exists or occurs. It describes information that helps explain the meaning of an event, statement, or idea by looking at its surroundings.

contract

C1

A formal and legally binding agreement between two or more parties that establishes mutual obligations. In academic and legal contexts, it refers to the specific terms, conditions, and enforcement mechanisms that govern a transaction or relationship.

contractor

C1

A person or company that performs work or provides goods and services under a specific legal agreement. Unlike a regular employee, a contractor is usually hired for a specific project or a fixed period of time as an independent entity.

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