Explanation at your level:
You use spend when you buy things. If you have 10 dollars and you buy a sandwich for 5 dollars, you spend 5 dollars. You can also use it for time. If you are at the park for two hours, you spend two hours at the park. It is a very useful word for your daily life.
In English, we say spend money on something. For example, 'I spend money on clothes.' We also use it for time: 'I spend time with my family.' Remember that the past tense is spent. So, 'Yesterday, I spent all my money on a new phone.' It is easy to use once you practice these two patterns.
At this level, you should notice how we use spend with the gerund (-ing form). We say 'I spend time reading' or 'He spends hours playing video games.' This is a very common structure. Also, think about the nuance: spending money is a necessity, but 'wasting' money is a negative choice. You can also 'spend' your energy or your patience.
As you move to B2, look for more complex collocations. We often talk about 'spending a fortune' or 'spending a lifetime' doing something. You might also hear 'spending power,' which refers to the economic ability of a group to purchase goods. Notice the difference in register: 'I spent a lot' is neutral, while 'I splashed out' is informal, and 'I expended significant capital' is very formal.
Advanced users use spend in figurative ways. You can 'spend' your influence or 'spend' your political capital. It implies a finite resource that is being depleted. In academic writing, you might see 'expend' used instead of 'spend' for resources like energy or effort. Understanding the subtle difference between 'spending' (a transaction) and 'investing' (a strategic use of resources) is key to C1 proficiency.
At the mastery level, spend connects to deep etymological roots. Consider the phrase 'to spend oneself,' meaning to exhaust one's own vitality for a cause. This usage is literary and profound. You will also encounter it in historical contexts regarding the 'spending' of coins, referencing the old practice of weighing bullion. Mastery involves knowing when to use the more precise 'expend' or 'disburse' versus the common 'spend,' and understanding how the word functions as a metaphor for the finite nature of human existence.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Spend means to use money or time.
- Past tense is 'spent'.
- Use 'on' for money.
- Use '-ing' for time.
When you spend, you are essentially trading one resource for another. Most commonly, we talk about spending money at a store, but you can also spend time with friends or spend energy on a project.
Think of your resources like a bank account. Whether it is coins in your pocket or minutes on a clock, you have a limited amount. When you use them, you are 'spending' them. It is a very versatile verb that applies to almost anything you can 'use up' to get a result.
The word spend has a fascinating history that dates back to the Old English word spendan. This itself came from the Latin word expendere, which literally means 'to pay out' or 'to weigh out.'
In ancient times, people often weighed coins to determine their value. So, 'spending' literally meant weighing out your metal money to pay for goods. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from just physical metal coins to abstract concepts like time and effort.
You will hear spend used in two main ways: with money or with time. It is a very neutral word, meaning it works in both casual chats and professional meetings.
Common combinations include spend money on, spend time with, and spend hours doing. It is important to remember that we rarely say 'spend effort'; instead, we usually say 'invest effort' or 'put in effort' to sound more natural.
1. Spend a penny: A polite way to say you need to use the restroom. Example: I'll be right back, I just need to spend a penny.
2. Spend like a sailor: To spend money very recklessly. Example: He got his bonus and started spending like a sailor.
3. Spend time in the doghouse: To be in trouble with someone. Example: I forgot our anniversary, so I'm spending time in the doghouse.
4. Spend your breath: To talk when no one is listening. Example: Don't spend your breath arguing with him; he won't change his mind.
5. Spend a fortune: To pay a very large amount of money. Example: We spent a fortune on our wedding.
Spend is an irregular verb. The past tense and past participle are both spent. It does not change based on the subject (I spend, he spends, they spend).
Pronunciation is straightforward: /spend/ in both British and American English. It rhymes with bend, lend, mend, send, and tend. The stress is always on the single syllable.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'expend'.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'e' sound as in 'bed'.
Clear 'd' at the end.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'spent'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Confusing with 'spinned'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
very easy
very easy
very easy
very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Irregular Verbs
spend-spent-spent
Examples by Level
I spend money on food.
spend = use money
Simple present
He spends time at home.
spends = uses time
Third person s
They spend five dollars.
five dollars = amount
Number usage
Do you spend money?
question format
Do/Does auxiliary
I like to spend time.
like to = enjoy
Infinitive
She spends her day.
her day = duration
Possessive
We spend a lot.
a lot = much
Quantifier
I spend it now.
it = money
Object pronoun
I spent all my money yesterday.
How much do you spend on rent?
We spend our weekends hiking.
Don't spend too much time on that.
She spends hours studying.
They spent the afternoon together.
I need to spend more time reading.
He spends his salary quickly.
I try not to spend money on things I don't need.
We spent the whole day fixing the car.
He spends a lot of time working on his car.
She spent a fortune on her new car.
It's not worth spending so much effort on this.
I love spending time in the mountains.
They spent their savings on a trip.
Don't spend your energy on people who don't care.
The government is spending millions on infrastructure.
She has spent her entire career in medicine.
I'd rather spend my time learning a new skill.
He spent a lifetime trying to solve the problem.
We spent the evening discussing politics.
They are spending their budget on marketing.
I don't like spending time waiting in lines.
Companies spend heavily on advertising.
The company is spending its remaining capital on R&D.
He spent his political capital on a lost cause.
Spending time in solitude is essential for creativity.
We spent the night debating the merits of the proposal.
She has spent years honing her craft.
The project is spending more resources than anticipated.
I spent a considerable amount of time analyzing the data.
They spent their last ounce of strength on the climb.
He spent himself completely in the service of others.
The empire spent its wealth on unnecessary wars.
She spent the twilight of her life in the countryside.
We spent the duration of the crisis in the basement.
The artist spent his vision on a single canvas.
They spent the remainder of their days in peace.
I have spent my intellect on this trivial task.
The storm spent its fury on the coast.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"spend a penny"
use the restroom
Excuse me, I need to spend a penny.
casual"spend like a sailor"
spend recklessly
He's spending like a sailor.
casual"spend a fortune"
spend a lot
They spent a fortune on the house.
neutral"spend time in the doghouse"
be in trouble
He's in the doghouse again.
casual"spend your breath"
waste words
Don't spend your breath on him.
casual"spend the night"
stay over
Can I spend the night?
neutralEasily Confused
both involve money
You spend money; things cost money.
I spent $10; the book cost $10.
both involve using resources
Spend is neutral; waste is negative.
I spent time reading; I wasted time sleeping.
both involve using resources
Invest is for future gain.
I spent money on food; I invested in stocks.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + spend + money + on + noun
I spend money on clothes.
Subject + spend + time + -ing
She spends time reading.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
We always use the preposition 'on' with spend.
Use the -ing form after spend time.
Gerund is required.
Spend is usually for money/time; invest is better for effort.
Spend is an irregular verb.
Tips
Rhyme Time
Remember 'spend' rhymes with 'send'.
The 'On' Rule
Always use 'on' after spend money.
The -ing Rule
Spend time + verb-ing.
Avoid 'Spended'
It is always 'spent'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Spend = S-P-E-N-D (Save Pennies Every New Day - wait, that's the opposite!)
Visual Association
A person opening a wallet.
Word Web
Challenge
Track your spending for one day.
Word Origin
Old English/Latin
Original meaning: to weigh out money
Cultural Context
None
Commonly used in consumer culture contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Shopping
- How much did you spend?
- I spent too much.
Work
- We spent the budget.
- I spend hours on reports.
Conversation Starters
"What do you like to spend your money on?"
"How do you spend your weekends?"
"Do you think you spend too much time on your phone?"
Journal Prompts
Write about how you spent your last holiday.
What is one thing you regret spending money on?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, the past tense is 'spent'.
Yes, but 'invest' is often more professional.
A 'spender'.
It is neutral.
Yes, it means how you occupy your time.
You spend money; an item costs money.
Yes, it is common.
Very often for budgets.
Test Yourself
I ___ money on a new bag.
Base form for first person.
Which is correct?
Gerund follows spend time.
You can say 'I spend effort on this'.
While 'invest' is better, 'spend' is acceptable.
Word
Meaning
Matching meanings.
Standard structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Spend is a versatile verb for using up your resources like time and money.
- Spend means to use money or time.
- Past tense is 'spent'.
- Use 'on' for money.
- Use '-ing' for time.
Rhyme Time
Remember 'spend' rhymes with 'send'.
The 'On' Rule
Always use 'on' after spend money.
The -ing Rule
Spend time + verb-ing.
Avoid 'Spended'
It is always 'spent'.
Example
I spend ten dollars on lunch every day.
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