The word "spend" is a verb that you can use in two main ways.
First, you "spend money" when you buy things. For example, you spend money at a shop to buy food.
Second, you "spend time" when you use your hours or days to do something or be somewhere. For instance, you might spend time with your friends, or spend time reading a book.
So, "spend" is about using either money or time.
At a CEFR C2 level, the verb 'spend' encapsulates a sophisticated duality. Firstly, it denotes the allocation of monetary resources for the acquisition of goods or services, implying a deliberate economic transaction. Secondly, it extends to the temporal realm, signifying the deliberate or incidental occupation of time in a particular manner or location. This encompasses both structured activities and periods of idleness, highlighting the concept of temporal investment or utilization. The nuance lies in recognizing 'spend' not merely as an action, but as a strategic deployment of either capital or time, each carrying inherent value and often involving a conscious choice regarding its application. Thus, 'spending' reflects a fundamental aspect of resource management, whether financial or chronological, within the human experience.
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The verb "spend" is a very common and useful word in English. It generally has two main meanings, both of which are important for everyday conversations. At its core, "spend" means to use something up, usually money or time, for a particular purpose.
Let's break down these two main uses. The first and perhaps most common way we use "spend" is in relation to money. When you "spend money," you are using your money to buy goods, services, or experiences. This could be anything from buying groceries at the supermarket to purchasing a new shirt, or even paying for a movie ticket. The idea is that you are exchanging your money for something else. This is a fundamental concept in economics and daily life, as everyone needs to spend money to acquire necessities and desires.
- DEFINITION
- To use money to pay for goods or services.
I like to spend money on new books.
How much do you spend on food each week?
The second major way we use "spend" is with time. When you "spend time," you are using your hours, minutes, or even days to do an activity or to be in a particular place. This could be spending time with friends, spending time working, or spending time relaxing at home. Just like with money, time is a resource, and how we spend it defines our days and our lives. This usage highlights that time is valuable and can be invested or used in various ways.
- DEFINITION
- To pass time in a specific way or place.
We like to spend our weekends at the beach.
I spent an hour talking to my sister on the phone.
People use "spend" in countless situations. For example, when you're planning a budget, you might say, "I need to be careful how I spend my money this month." If you're discussing your vacation, you could say, "We spent two weeks exploring Italy." It's a versatile word that helps us describe how we allocate our resources, whether they are financial or temporal.
Understanding the verb "spend" is crucial for basic communication in English because it allows you to talk about fundamental aspects of daily life: managing finances and managing your time. Without this word, it would be difficult to express simple ideas like going shopping, enjoying a holiday, or dedicating effort to a task.
Here are some common situations where you might hear or use "spend":
- Talking about shopping: "I want to spend some money on new clothes."
- Discussing leisure activities: "We spent the afternoon playing board games."
- Describing work or study: "He spends many hours studying for his exams."
- Asking about costs: "How much did you spend on your new phone?"
- Making plans: "Let's spend the evening together."
In summary, "spend" is a foundational verb that describes the act of using money to get something, or using your time to do an activity or be in a place. Its widespread use in everyday conversation makes it a key word for English learners at the A1 level to master.
按水平分级的例句
They decided to spend their vacation exploring the national parks.
Ellos decidieron pasar sus vacaciones explorando los parques nacionales.
Here, 'spend' refers to using time for an activity.
How much do you usually spend on groceries each week?
¿Cuánto sueles gastar en comestibles cada semana?
'Spend' is used here to refer to using money.
She loves to spend time reading in the library.
A ella le encanta pasar tiempo leyendo en la biblioteca.
This sentence uses 'spend' to describe the allocation of time.
We need to spend less money on unnecessary things if we want to save up.
Necesitamos gastar menos dinero en cosas innecesarias si queremos ahorrar.
'Spend' is used with 'less' to indicate a reduction in monetary expenditure.
He spent the entire afternoon working on his new project.
Él pasó toda la tarde trabajando en su nuevo proyecto.
This example shows 'spend' in the past tense, referring to time usage.
It's important to spend quality time with your family.
Es importante pasar tiempo de calidad con tu familia.
Here, 'spend' emphasizes the value of the time being used.
They spent a lot of money renovating their old house.
Gastaron mucho dinero renovando su casa vieja.
'Spend' is in the past tense and refers to a significant financial outlay.
Don't spend all your energy on small tasks; save some for the main goal.
No gastes toda tu energía en tareas pequeñas; guarda algo para el objetivo principal.
In this case, 'spend' is used metaphorically for the use of energy.
The government has earmarked a substantial amount to spend on infrastructure projects, aiming to stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities.
Government has allocated a lot of money for infrastructure.
Here, 'spend' is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the purpose of the spending.
Rather than constantly acquiring new possessions, she prefers to spend her disposable income on enriching experiences like travel and cultural events.
She'd rather spend extra money on experiences like travel than new things.
'Spend' is used with 'disposable income' followed by a prepositional phrase 'on enriching experiences' to specify what the money is used for.
Critics argue that the company's decision to spend millions on a new advertising campaign was a misstep, given its current financial struggles.
Critics think the company made a mistake spending millions on ads while struggling financially.
This sentence uses 'spend' with a large sum of money and 'on' to indicate the target of the expenditure.
He's determined to spend more quality time with his family, recognizing the importance of nurturing those relationships amidst his demanding career.
He wants to spend more good time with family, knowing it's important despite his busy job.
'Spend' is used with 'quality time' to emphasize the value of the time being dedicated.
Despite the inherent risks, many entrepreneurs are willing to spend countless hours and resources pursuing their innovative business ventures.
Many business owners are okay with spending lots of time and money on their new businesses, even with risks.
Here, 'spend' refers to the dedication of 'countless hours and resources' towards a goal.
The charitable organization strives to spend its donations judiciously, ensuring that every penny contributes directly to its humanitarian mission.
The charity tries to spend donations wisely so every bit helps its mission.
'Spend' is used adverbially with 'judiciously' to describe how the money is being spent.
During her sabbatical, she plans to spend a significant portion of her time immersing herself in local culture and learning a new language.
On her break, she plans to spend a lot of time experiencing local culture and learning a new language.
'Spend' is followed by 'a significant portion of her time' and a present participle ('immersing') to describe the activity.
It's imperative that we spend our remaining energy on completing this critical task before the deadline, even if it means working late.
We must spend our last energy on finishing this important task by the deadline, even if we work late.
'Spend' is used metaphorically with 'remaining energy' to emphasize the allocation of effort.
The conglomerate decided to spend a significant portion of its annual profits on pioneering research and development, aiming to revolutionize the industry.
Conglomerate = large company made of many smaller companies. Pioneering = introducing new ideas. Revolutionize = completely change.
Here, 'spend' is followed by a noun phrase indicating the amount and then a prepositional phrase ('on...') indicating the purpose.
Despite the inherent risks, the government chose to spend political capital on pushing through the contentious reform, believing it crucial for long-term economic stability.
Inherent risks = unavoidable risks. Political capital = influence a politician has. Contentious reform = controversial change.
This example uses 'spend' metaphorically with 'political capital', followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the action.
She would spend countless hours poring over ancient manuscripts, meticulously deciphering faded script to unravel forgotten historical narratives.
Countless hours = very many hours. Poring over = studying intently. Meticulously = very carefully. Deciphering = figuring out. Unravel = discover.
'Spend' is followed by a duration ('countless hours') and then a present participle ('poring') to describe the activity.
The philanthropic billionaire pledged to spend the majority of his fortune establishing a global network of educational institutions accessible to underprivileged communities.
Philanthropic = charitable. Pledged = promised. Fortune = large amount of money. Underprivileged communities = disadvantaged groups.
'Spend' is used with an amount of money ('the majority of his fortune') followed by a gerund ('establishing') indicating the purpose.
Critics argued that the administration was spending its credibility recklessly by constantly backtracking on its policy commitments, eroding public trust.
Credibility = trustworthiness. Recklessly = carelessly. Backtracking = reversing a decision. Eroding = gradually destroying.
Here, 'spend' is used with an abstract noun ('credibility') and an adverb ('recklessly'), followed by a prepositional phrase or by-clause explaining how.
Having spent a sabbatical year immersing herself in diverse cultural experiences, her perspective on global interconnectedness was profoundly altered.
Sabbatical year = a period of paid leave for study or travel. Immersing herself = deeply involving herself. Interconnectedness = state of being connected. Profoundly altered = greatly changed.
This uses the past participle 'spent' in a perfect participle clause, followed by a duration and a present participle indicating the activity.
The corporation decided to spend strategically on technological upgrades rather than expanding its physical infrastructure, prioritizing efficiency over immediate growth.
Strategically = in a planned way. Technological upgrades = improvements to technology. Physical infrastructure = buildings and equipment. Prioritizing = putting first.
'Spend' is followed by an adverb ('strategically') and a prepositional phrase ('on...'), indicating the manner and object of spending.
He chose to spend his twilight years meticulously documenting the intricate folklore of his ancestral village, preserving it for future generations.
Twilight years = old age. Meticulously = very carefully. Intricate folklore = complex traditional stories. Ancestral village = village where ancestors lived.
'Spend' is followed by a duration ('his twilight years') and a present participle ('documenting') describing the activity.
记住它
记忆技巧
Imagine a **SPEND**thrift who **SPENDS** all their money. The 'S' and 'P' in **SPEND** can remind you of 'Shopping' and 'Paying'.
视觉联想
Picture a person happily handing over cash for a new item. Around them, clocks show time flying by as they engage in an activity they enjoy. The money flows out of their hands like water, and the clock hands spin quickly.
Word Web
挑战
Try to use 'spend' in three different sentences: one about money, one about time, and one about effort. For example: 'I spend money on groceries.' 'I spend time reading books.' 'I spend a lot of effort on my studies.'
自我测试 42 个问题
I like to ___ time with my friends.
To 'spend time' means to pass time in a specific way or place, often with others.
How much money did you ___ on your new shoes?
To 'spend money' means to use money to pay for goods or services.
She likes to ___ her weekends at the beach.
To 'spend weekends' means to pass your days in a specific way or place.
They will ___ a lot of money on their vacation.
To 'spend money' means to use money to pay for goods or services.
I usually ___ my evenings reading a book.
To 'spend evenings' means to pass your hours doing an activity.
Did you ___ all your money on candy?
To 'spend money' means to use money to pay for goods or services.
I usually ___ my money on books and coffee.
The sentence is about using money to buy things, which is the definition of 'spend'.
How much time do you ___ studying English every day?
To 'spend time' means to use your hours or days doing an activity.
They ___ their vacation on a beautiful beach.
The context refers to passing time in a specific place, which is 'spend'.
He likes to ___ his evenings watching movies.
To 'spend evenings' means to pass time in a specific way during the evening.
We need to ___ less money on unnecessary things.
The sentence suggests reducing the amount of money used for purchases, hence 'spend'.
She plans to ___ her weekend visiting her family.
To 'spend a weekend' means to use the weekend for an activity.
I need to _____ some money on new clothes for the party.
To 'spend' money means to use it to buy things, like new clothes.
We like to _____ our weekends at the beach.
To 'spend' time means to pass it in a particular way or place, like at the beach.
How much did you _____ on that new book?
To 'spend' on something means to use money to pay for it. 'Cost' refers to the price, 'pay' is the act of giving money, and 'buy' is the act of acquiring something.
If you spend money, you are saving it for later.
To 'spend' money means to use it to pay for goods or services, not to save it.
You can spend time doing an activity like reading a book.
To 'spend' time means to pass it in a specific way or doing an activity.
When you spend money, you get something in return.
Spending money means giving it away to get goods or services in exchange.
Choose the correct sentence: Where do you usually ___ your money?
The auxiliary verb 'do' requires the base form of the main verb.
Which option best completes the sentence? She decided to ___ her holiday relaxing on the beach.
After 'to', we use the base form of the verb (infinitive).
What is the past tense of 'spend' in the following sentence? They ___ a lot of time preparing for the party.
The past tense of 'spend' is 'spent'.
You can spend time doing something, but you cannot spend money on something.
The word 'spend' can be used for both money and time, e.g., 'spend money on clothes' and 'spend time reading'.
If you 'spend wisely', it means you are careful and sensible about how you use your money.
To 'spend wisely' implies making good decisions about financial expenditures.
The sentence 'I will spend my weekend studying' means I intend to work during the weekend.
To 'spend my weekend studying' means to dedicate that time to studying.
The company decided to ___ a significant amount of money on research and development to innovate new products.
To 'spend' money means to use it to pay for goods or services. In this context, it refers to using money for R&D.
Despite the long hours, she always tried to ___ quality time with her children every evening.
To 'spend time' means to pass time in a particular way or place. Here, it refers to dedicating time to her children.
If we want to reduce our carbon footprint, we need to ___ less on non-essential items.
To 'spend less' means to use less money. This context implies reducing expenses on unnecessary purchases.
They plan to ___ their vacation exploring the historical sites of Rome.
To 'spend a vacation' means to pass the duration of a vacation doing a specific activity or in a particular place.
The government announced new measures to encourage citizens to ___ more on local businesses.
To 'spend on local businesses' means to use money to buy goods or services from them.
He regretted the amount of time he had to ___ on commuting every day, wishing he lived closer to work.
To 'spend time on commuting' means to use a certain amount of time for traveling to and from work.
Imagine you've just received an unexpected bonus at work. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing how you plan to spend this money, considering both immediate desires and long-term goals.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Upon receiving an unexpected bonus, I would first allocate a portion to pay off some outstanding bills, ensuring financial stability. Then, I'd definitely treat myself to a weekend getaway, perhaps a short trip to the coast. The remaining amount I would invest in a new online course to upskill, as I believe in spending on personal development for long-term benefits.
Describe a time when you spent a significant amount of time on a project or hobby that ultimately didn't pan out as expected. What did you learn from that experience?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I once spent countless hours attempting to build a complex model airplane from scratch, meticulously following online tutorials and investing in specialized tools. Despite my best efforts and considerable dedication, the final product never quite flew correctly. From that experience, I learned the importance of managing expectations and sometimes, knowing when to pivot or ask for help, even if it means acknowledging initial setbacks.
Discuss the ethical implications of how wealthy individuals choose to spend their money. Should there be societal expectations on how they spend, or is it purely a personal choice?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
The ethical implications of how wealthy individuals spend their money are a complex topic. While it's largely considered a personal choice, there's a strong argument for a societal expectation of philanthropy, especially given the vast resources at their disposal. Excessive luxury consumption, for example, can be seen as tone-deaf when global poverty persists, raising questions about social responsibility versus individual discretion. Ultimately, the impact of their spending choices on broader society cannot be ignored.
According to the passage, what is a consequence of the digital age that impacts how people spend their time?
Read this passage:
In today's fast-paced world, many people lament the lack of time to pursue hobbies or spend quality time with loved ones. The digital age, while offering unparalleled convenience, often blurs the lines between work and leisure, making it difficult to truly disconnect. Consequently, mindfulness practices and digital detoxes have gained popularity as individuals seek to reclaim their time and spend it more intentionally.
According to the passage, what is a consequence of the digital age that impacts how people spend their time?
The passage explicitly states, 'The digital age, while offering unparalleled convenience, often blurs the lines between work and leisure, making it difficult to truly disconnect.'
The passage explicitly states, 'The digital age, while offering unparalleled convenience, often blurs the lines between work and leisure, making it difficult to truly disconnect.'
What is the primary difference between 'conscious spending' and traditional budgeting, according to the text?
Read this passage:
The concept of 'conscious spending' encourages consumers to think critically about where their money goes. It's not just about budgeting, but also about aligning spending habits with personal values and ethical considerations. For instance, choosing to spend on products from sustainable companies or supporting local businesses are examples of conscious spending that reflect a deeper commitment than mere transactional exchanges.
What is the primary difference between 'conscious spending' and traditional budgeting, according to the text?
The passage states, 'It's not just about budgeting, but also about aligning spending habits with personal values and ethical considerations,' clearly indicating a distinction.
The passage states, 'It's not just about budgeting, but also about aligning spending habits with personal values and ethical considerations,' clearly indicating a distinction.
What is a key difference in historical societal views on spending wealth?
Read this passage:
Historically, societies have differed greatly in how they perceive and regulate the spending of wealth. Some cultures emphasized communal spending and sharing resources, viewing excessive individual accumulation as detrimental to social cohesion. Others, particularly in more individualistic societies, celebrated personal financial success and the freedom to spend one's earnings as desired, with minimal external interference.
What is a key difference in historical societal views on spending wealth?
The passage directly contrasts cultures that 'emphasized communal spending' with others that 'celebrated personal financial success and the freedom to spend one's earnings as desired.'
The passage directly contrasts cultures that 'emphasized communal spending' with others that 'celebrated personal financial success and the freedom to spend one's earnings as desired.'
The company decided to ___ a substantial amount of its budget on researching sustainable energy solutions, anticipating significant long-term returns.
While 'allocate' is close, 'spend' specifically refers to using money for a purpose, often with the expectation of a return or benefit, fitting the context of investing in research.
Despite the arduous journey, they chose to ___ their summer trekking through the Himalayas, seeking an unparalleled adventure.
'Spend' is the most appropriate verb here to describe how they passed their time doing an activity. 'Devote' suggests dedication, 'occupy' implies taking up time, and 'engage' focuses on involvement, but 'spend' directly refers to the duration of time used.
The government's new initiative aims to ___ a considerable sum on upgrading the nation's outdated infrastructure, hoping to boost economic growth.
'Spend' is the most general and fitting term for using a sum of money for a purpose. While 'invest' is also suitable, 'spend' directly addresses the act of using the money, and 'expend' is a more formal synonym that can also refer to using energy.
You can spend time wisely by meticulously planning your daily tasks and prioritizing significant objectives.
To 'spend time wisely' means to use your time effectively and productively, which aligns with planning and prioritizing tasks.
When a company decides to 'spend less on marketing', it implies they are increasing their advertising budget.
To 'spend less' means to decrease the amount of money used, so spending less on marketing would mean reducing the advertising budget.
It is customary to spend a significant amount of effort when attempting to master a complex new skill.
To 'spend effort' means to use energy and dedication, which is necessary for mastering a complex skill.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
例句
I spend ten dollars on lunch every day.
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更多Money词汇
prices
B1为某物支付的金额。通常指多个商品或服务的成本。
pay
A1为换取商品、服务或偿还债务而付钱给某人。它也可以意味着付出非金钱的东西，如关注或赞扬。
bank
A2一个存放钱并可以借钱的安全地方。
finance
C1指对金钱、投资、银行及资产的管理。它涵盖了金融体系中资本运作的各个方面。
income
C1指定期收到的钱，比如通过工作或投资获得的收入。包括工资、利息等。
investment
C2Investment refers to the allocation of resources, such as money, time, or effort, into something with the expectation of achieving a profit or future benefit. In economic terms, it specifically denotes the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth.
commodity
B2可以买卖的基本原材料或农产品，如铜、咖啡或石油。
subsidy
B2To provide financial support for an activity, organization, or industry, usually by a government, to keep prices low or to ensure a service remains functional. It involves paying part of the cost of production or operation so that the end user pays a reduced price.
affluent
C1Describes individuals, families, or areas that possess a great deal of money and wealth, resulting in a high standard of living. It is often used to characterize the social and economic status of neighborhoods or societies rather than just personal bank accounts.
benefactor
C1指为学校、慈善机构或个人提供资金及其他帮助的人，也就是赞助人或捐助者。
