A1 verb Neutral #146 most common

spend

/spend/

To use money to pay for goods or services, or to pass time in a specific way or place. It describes the act of giving away money to get something or using your hours and days to do an activity.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I spend ten dollars on lunch every day.

I spend ten dollars on lunch every day.

2

The department intends to spend the remaining budget on new equipment.

The department intends to spend the remaining budget on new equipment.

3

I want to spend the whole weekend playing video games.

I want to spend the whole weekend playing video games.

Word Family

Noun
spending
Verb
spend
Adjective
spent
Related
spender
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Memory Tip

Think of the letters: S-P-E-N-D. 'Sending Paper (money) Every Night and Day.'

Quick Quiz

I love to ______ time with my friends at the park.

Correct!

The correct answer is: spend

Examples

1

I spend ten dollars on lunch every day.

everyday

I spend ten dollars on lunch every day.

2

The department intends to spend the remaining budget on new equipment.

formal

The department intends to spend the remaining budget on new equipment.

3

I want to spend the whole weekend playing video games.

informal

I want to spend the whole weekend playing video games.

4

Scientists spend many years conducting experiments to prove a theory.

academic

Scientists spend many years conducting experiments to prove a theory.

5

We need to spend more on digital advertising to increase sales.

business

We need to spend more on digital advertising to increase sales.

Word Family

Noun
spending
Verb
spend
Adjective
spent
Related
spender

Common Collocations

spend money spend money
spend time spend time
spend a lot spend a lot
spend wisely spend wisely
spend a fortune spend a fortune

Common Phrases

spend time with

spend time with

spend money on

spend money on

spend the night

spend the night

Often Confused With

spend vs waste

Spend is neutral and means using a resource; waste means using it badly or for no reason.

spend vs pay

You pay a person or for a specific bill; you spend money (the resource) on something.

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Usage Notes

When talking about money, use the preposition 'on' (e.g., spend money on clothes). When talking about time, you can follow the word with a gerund (e.g., spend time reading).

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Common Mistakes

Learners often say 'spend for' instead of 'spend on'. They also sometimes use 'pass' when they should use 'spend' for time spent doing an activity.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the letters: S-P-E-N-D. 'Sending Paper (money) Every Night and Day.'

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'expendere', which means 'to weigh out' or 'to pay out'.

Grammar Patterns

Irregular verb: spend (present), spent (past), spent (past participle). Structure: spend + [time/money] + on + [noun]. Structure: spend + [time] + [verb-ing].
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Cultural Context

In many English-speaking cultures, 'spending time' with family is a highly valued social concept.

Quick Quiz

I love to ______ time with my friends at the park.

Correct!

The correct answer is: spend

Related Words

proceed

C1

The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.

individual

C1

Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.

appropriately

B2

To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.

region

B2

A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.

resource

B2

A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

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