expended

USAGE SUMMARY

'expended' is an acceptable and widely used word in written English.
It is a verb that means to use up, exhaust, or deplete. For example: "She expended a lot of time and money to get her degree."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If half of the indignation expended on Cantona's insane assault had been invested in combatting the aggressive culture of the terraces then Wednesday's incident might never have happened.

The Guardian - Sport

The one-eyed Tyson trudged back into the centre of the ring, where he traded punches and expended more energy for a couple of rounds.

The Guardian - Sport

First, in a small market, the astonishing sums of money expended on new books, especially novels, have become unreal and unsustainable.

The Guardian - Books

"In the first 30 minutes we suffered a little bit, but I think they [Spurs] paid a price for all the energy they expended.

The Guardian - Sport

Whenever a man has worn something more interesting than a dark suit – Martin Bell in his white suit, say – pots of ink are expended discussing it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The aim would be to impose a debt write-off significant enough to make future repayments manageable Yet while the world's policymakers have expended countless hours since the crisis of 2008 rewriting regulations on bonuses, mortgage lending, derivatives and too-big-to-fail banks, little attention has been paid to what should happen when a government is on the brink of financial meltdown.

The Guardian - Business

(I don't know that I'll get time to get myself on the twits given the bulk of the energy will be expended here.. but in the event that I do, and you'd like to follow me there, I'm @murpharoo) Updated at 7.03pm AEST Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They expended time, effort and money to keep me alive.

The Guardian

It is clearly in the interests of America and its NATO allies to try to lock in some of the real gains that their involvement has made possible in Afghanistan, for a fraction of the financial and military effort that has been expended in the past.

The Economist

During the web's first wave, much effort was expended trying to transfer traditional thinking about information to the new medium.

The Economist

Several different casts are required to keep up the standard across eight shows a week, but the result is a particular thrill for dance fiends, who have rarely seen such furious energy expended on a Broadway stage".Movin' Out" and "La Bohème" both stretch the parameters of Broadway, while selling themselves via the work and no one single name.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the use of abstract resources like time or effort, "expended" adds a formal tone. Use it to convey careful consideration of resource allocation.

Common error

Be mindful of the difference between "expended", meaning used up, and "expanded", meaning increased in size or scope. Ensure the correct term is used based on the intended meaning to avoid miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expended" is as a past participle or past tense verb. It describes the action of using resources or energy, often with a sense of completion or finality, as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expended" is a versatile term that indicates the use or consumption of resources, particularly time, money, and effort. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically sound and generally appropriate for neutral to formal contexts. It appears most frequently in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific articles. While alternatives like "used up", "consumed", and "utilized" offer similar meanings, "expended" often conveys a sense of careful allocation or considered use. Remember to distinguish "expended" from "expanded" to avoid errors. Whether discussing budgets, research projects, or energy consumption, "expended" is a valuable term for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used up

Focuses on the complete consumption of a resource.

consumed

Emphasizes the process of using something, often completely.

utilized

Highlights the practical and efficient use of resources.

spent

Refers to the allocation of money or time.

exhausted

Indicates that resources or energy have been completely depleted.

depleted

Stresses the reduction of a resource to a low level.

devoted

Emphasizes the commitment of time or resources to a specific purpose.

invested

Suggests using resources with the expectation of future benefits.

allocated

Highlights the deliberate distribution of resources for specific purposes.

applied

Focuses on the practical use of resources to achieve a specific result.

FAQs

How to use "expended" in a sentence?

You can use "expended" to describe the use of resources like time, money, or energy. For example, "They "expended" a great deal of effort on the project."

What can I say instead of "expended"?

You can use alternatives like "used up", "consumed", or "utilized" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "expended on" or "expended for"?

"Expended on" is generally preferred when indicating what resources were used for. "Expended for" is less common, but not necessarily incorrect if the context implies 'in order to achieve'. For example, "money was "expended" on research" is more common.

What's the difference between "expended" and "invested"?

"Expended" simply means used up or spent, while "invested" implies that resources were used with the expectation of future benefit or return. You "expend" energy, but you invest time or money.