expend

USAGE SUMMARY

"expend" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as either a noun or a verb meaning to use up resources or money. For example, "The company will expend a large amount of money on research and development this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Holman appears to expend more energy during one song than most band members manage in their entire careers.

The Guardian - Music

These anonymous edits expend much energy on editing Shapps' political credentials so he is listed on Wikipedia as chairman of the Conservative party.

The Guardian

The basic fundamentals are not looking good, so we're asking companies: does it make sense to continue to expend resources on high-cost, high-carbon reserves when it looks like there is a high potential for those resources to be stranded in the future?

The Guardian

Messages could be relayed between the corridors of power and the angriest and poorest parts of the Muslim street; and Muslim leaders could be induced to expend personal and political capital urging their flock to co-operate with the police and provide useful information.Now that system, and its unspoken compromises, lies in ruins.

The Economist

But in one plagued by some of the highest levels of violent crime in the world, it is tragic that South Africa's law-enforcement officials should expend so much energy fighting each other rather than the criminals.

The Economist

A network can only push out so much data at any given time and operators expend substantial effort to ensure that no subscriber is entirely cut out by pinching bandwidth from extant connections, slowing them down.

The Economist

Most of it comes from desalination plants, which expend a lot of energy and release plenty of carbon dioxide.Anyone in the market for one of the Dubai islands might want to consider the contradictions inherent in their investment.

The Economist

Females derived the protective benefits of polyandry without actually having to expend the effort to carry it out.The authors suggest that socially mediated polyandry might apply to many more species that engage in communal care of the young, including a small percentage of mammals such as rodents.

The Economist

They also don't think it matters:Political and emotional conditions do supply an understandable excuse for expending money, but not a valid one, and they do not relieve officials of the responsibility of seeking to expend public funds wisely.

The Economist

Politicians in one of Europe's most decentralised countries expend vast amounts of energy trying to define how many "nations", "countries" or "nationalities" exist within its borders.

The Economist

Laws inherited from the British prevent companies from shedding workers or closing down.The most telling evidence of the cost of delaying reform is the sheer effort companies have to expend to cope with the country's labyrinthine bureaucracy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing resource management, use "expend" to convey the careful and considered use of resources, whether they are financial, energetic, or temporal.

Common error

While "expend" is a perfectly valid word, avoid using it in contexts where simpler words like "spend" or "use" would suffice. Overusing "expend" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The verb "expend" functions primarily as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. It describes the act of using up or consuming resources, energy, or time. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where "expend" is followed by a noun representing what is being used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academic

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expend" is a versatile verb that means to use up or consume resources, energy, or time. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While it is similar to "spend" or "use", "expend" carries a more formal and deliberate connotation. Therefore, it's best suited for situations where you want to emphasize the considered allocation or consumption of resources. Remember to consider the context and audience when choosing between "expend" and its simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Use up

Focuses on the complete consumption of a resource.

Consume

Implies using something, often to the point of depletion.

Utilize

Suggests practical and effective use of something.

Devote

Highlights dedicating time, effort, or resources to a specific purpose.

Allocate

Focuses on distributing resources for a specific purpose.

Invest

Implies putting resources into something with the expectation of future benefit.

Apply

Suggests putting something to a specific task or purpose.

Employ

Focuses on making use of something, often in a systematic way.

Dissipate

Suggests spreading out or scattering energy or resources.

Exhaust

Implies using something up completely, often to the point of depletion.

FAQs

How can I use "expend" in a sentence?

You can use "expend" to describe the act of using resources like money, time, or energy. For instance, "The company will "expend" a significant amount on marketing this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "expend"?

Alternatives to "expend" include "use up", "consume", or "utilize" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "expend" or "spend"?

"Expend" is generally considered more formal than "spend". "Spend" is more commonly used in everyday conversation, while "expend" is often used in more formal or technical contexts.

What's the difference between "expend" and "invest"?

"Expend" generally means to use up or pay out, while "invest" implies using resources with the expectation of future returns or benefits. For example, you "expend" money on daily operations, but you "invest" in new technologies.