expend

/ɪkˈspend/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspend/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspend/ (ame, mw)

expend — verb

  • expendpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • expendshe / she / it
  • expendedpast simple
  • expending-ing form

1. to spend or use up a limited resource such as time, energy, or money on a partic

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to spend or use up a limited resource such as time, energy, or money on a particular task or goal

例句

Mei-Lin expended hours on the grant proposal, checking every figure twice before the deadline.

expend + hours + on + noun phrase

The research team expended most of its funding on new laboratory equipment last spring.

同義詞
  • spend

    more common and less formal; the everyday word for using money or time

  • use up

    informal; emphasises that nothing is left after the activity

  • consume

    broader; applies to physical resources like fuel and food as well as time and energy

  • exhaust

    stronger; suggests using every last bit until completely empty or drained

反義詞
  • conserve

    to protect resources and avoid using them up

  • save

    to keep resources for later rather than using them now

  • hoard

    to collect and store resources, often excessively, rather than spend them

文法句型

expend + noun phrase

expend + noun phrase + on + noun phrase

expend + noun phrase + in + verb-ing

用法筆記

More formal than 'spend' or 'use up'. The object must name a resource — typically time, effort, energy, or money — not a physical item. Frequently followed by 'on' plus a noun phrase or by an '-ing' verb form showing the activity the resource was put towards. Common in academic, business, and official contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He expended the heavy box onto the shelf.
✅He lifted the heavy box onto the shelf.
💡'expend' only applies to abstract resources like time, effort, or money, not to physical objects.
❌The company expended a lot on advertising last year.
✅The company expended a lot of money on advertising last year.
💡'expend' is transitive and requires an object naming the resource; do not use it without stating what was spent.