expire

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'expire' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation when something comes to an end or ceases to be valid. For example: My gym membership will expire at the end of the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It said that if automatic spending cuts go into force and all the Bush-era tax cuts expire, the nation would slip into recession next year and unemployment would rise to 9.1 percent, from October's rate of 7.9 percent.

The New York Times

Paul has made his longtime opposition to the NSA's surveillance dragnet a key tenet of his 2016 campaign and followed through on his pledge to let the Patriot Act expire – although he voted against the USA Freedom Act on Tuesday, arguing that it does not go far enough.

The Guardian

Did the entire Patriot Act expire on Sunday night?

The Guardian

The former Labor government supported and extended the program but funding was due to expire at the end of 2014.

The Guardian

The issue is urgent because a key provision of the Patriot Act, the piece of the law that enables the NSA to sweep millions of Americans' phone records without a warrant, is due to expire on 1 June.

The Guardian

Benefits for the long-term unemployed, which were about to expire for an estimated two million jobless Americans, will be extended for a year.

The Guardian

Slovakia, whose Miroslav Lajčák was the only EU foreign minister besides Cyprus's to visit Moscow since the annexation of Crimea, said it expected to sign an oil-supply treaty with Russia this month that would expire in 2029.

The Guardian

Transitional arrangements restricting the rights of 29 million Bulgarian and Romanian citizens from living and working in the UK will expire in January 2014.

The Guardian

If the Senate does nothing, the controversial provisions of the Patriot Act opposed by the Kentucky expire automatically at the end of May.

The Guardian

In July, heads of state and government ministers will meet in Addis Ababa to discuss how to pay for the sustainable development goals, which will replace the millennium development goals when they expire at the end of the year.

The Guardian

After three years, the freebies expire, but Merck promised to provide Rwanda with a discounted access price to the vaccine.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expire" to clearly indicate the termination or invalidation of a contract, agreement, or item. Be specific with dates to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "end" signifies a general conclusion, "expire" specifically refers to the termination of something with a set duration or validity period. Avoid using "end" when "expire" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expire" is as an intransitive verb, indicating the termination or invalidation of something after a specific period. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage. Examples show it frequently applied to contracts, agreements, and legal provisions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "expire" is a versatile term primarily used to denote the termination or invalidation of something after a defined period. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and common across various contexts, notably in news and business. While alternatives such as ""come to an end"" or ""run out"" exist, "expire" carries a specific nuance related to validity and duration, making it a valuable term to master for precise communication. Be mindful of using it in contexts that require emphasizing the finality of an agreement or license, and avoid confusing it with the more general term "end".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become invalid

Directly addresses the loss of validity or legal standing.

cease to be valid

A more formal way of saying "become invalid".

be no longer effective

Focuses on the loss of effectiveness or usefulness.

come to an end

Focuses on the termination aspect rather than invalidity.

run out

Emphasizes the depletion of a resource or time.

reach its end

Highlights the reaching of a final point or conclusion.

terminate

Implies a more formal or abrupt ending.

lapse

Suggests a more gradual termination or a failure to renew.

be up

A more informal way of saying something is about to expire.

fall due

Indicates the point at which something is owed or must be paid.

FAQs

How can I use "expire" in a sentence?

You can use "expire" to indicate when something comes to an end. For example, "My driver's license will "run out" next month" or "The contract is set to "come to an end" at the end of the year".

What is a synonym for "expire"?

Synonyms for "expire" include "lapse", ""run out"", or "become invalid", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something "expires on" a certain date?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. You can say something "expires on" a specific date to indicate when it becomes invalid. For instance, "The coupon expires on July 31st".

What's the difference between "expire" and "end"?

"Expire" refers specifically to the termination of something with a defined duration or validity, while "end" is a more general term for any type of conclusion. Use "expire" when referring to contracts, subscriptions, or licenses, and "end" for general situations where something stops or concludes.