expires

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expires" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is no longer valid or effective after a certain date or time. Example: "The coupon expires at the end of the month, so make sure to use it before then."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Villa manager also anticipates that Delph, 25, is a future captain of the club, although Lambert may hope that time will not come too soon as he wants Ron Vlaar, the current captain when fit and whose contract also expires at the end of the season, to follow suit and commit to a new deal.

The Guardian - Sport

Greece could hold all of its June IMF payments until the end of the month, which is also the date when its current bailout programme with the eurozone expires.

The Guardian

More intriguing is the notion that Capello would be a stop-gap appointment and that PSG will try to tempt Arsène Wenger to the club when his current Arsenal contract expires next summer.

The Guardian - Sport

Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst at Eurasia Group, said Greece would start pushing hard for debt relief, which could be tied to a future financial programme once the current bailout expires at the end of 2014.

The Guardian - Business

The deadline for al-Jazeera receiving a response from the UK, under FOI rules, expires this week.

The Guardian

Our dysfunctional land market is one of the key barriers to house building, so I'm delighted to see proposals to tackle land banking such as charging council tax on undeveloped land and shortening the time before a planning permission expires.

The Guardian

Related: Liverpool assistant Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh to depart The England Under-21 international's current deal expires at the end of June but the recently-relegated club will be entitled to compensation because of the player's age.

The Guardian - Sport

While the claimed legal authority for the program, Section 215 of the Patriot Act, expires on 1 June, the memo notes that the next 90-day order from a secret surveillance court necessary to gather the bulk data must be filed by Friday – after the House of Representatives, which has already voted overwhelmingly to stop the program, is in recess.

The Guardian

His deal as assistant coach of NRL's Sydney Roosters expires at the end of this year.

The Guardian - Sport

A key provision of the law, Section 215, which has been used to justify the government's dragnet collection of the phone records of US citizens, expires next month, lacking a deal meanwhile to preserve it.

The Guardian

But Doyle's loan expires after the season.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing agreements or contracts, use "expires" to clearly state the date or event when the agreement is no longer valid. For example, "The contract expires on December 31, 2025."

Common error

Avoid using "expires" to describe the death of a person. While technically acceptable, it is usually reserved for inanimate objects or abstract concepts. Use "die" or "pass away" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expires" is that of an intransitive verb. It indicates the point at which something ceases to be valid or effective. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

34%

Science

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "expires" is a versatile intransitive verb used to denote the end of validity or effectiveness of something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news, business, and scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral and professional tone. When using "expires", ensure it refers to inanimate objects or abstract concepts rather than people, and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "runs out" or "terminates" for varied expression. By understanding its nuances and usage patterns, you can effectively communicate the concept of termination or end dates in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ceases to be valid

Explicitly states that something is no longer in effect or acceptable.

becomes invalid

Similar to "ceases to be valid", but emphasizes the change in status. A more neutral but semantic match.

terminates

A more formal and definitive term for ending something, such as a contract or agreement.

is no longer effective

Focuses on the loss of effectiveness rather than just validity, broader scope.

is concluded

Formal way to denote the end of an event or process. Conveys finality and formality.

runs out

A more informal way of saying something reaches its end date or limit. Implies a depletion or exhaustion.

lapses

Indicates a temporary failure or a decline, often implying a return to a previous state. Similarity score is high due to shared implication of termination.

comes to an end

General phrase indicating the conclusion of something, more emphasis on the end.

is completed

Implies the fulfillment or finalization of a process or period, subtly different from simply ending.

is finished

Colloquial and widely used phrase indicating the end of something; varies based on context.

FAQs

How do I use "expires" in a sentence?

The word "expires" is typically used to indicate when something becomes no longer valid or effective. For instance, "My driver's license expires next month", or "The warranty expires in one year".

What can I say instead of "expires"?

Alternatives to "expires" include "runs out", "terminates", or "ceases to be valid", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'my patience expires'?

While grammatically sound, saying "my patience expires" is not common. A more natural phrasing would be "my patience "runs out"" or "I'm losing my patience".

What's the difference between "expires" and "lapses"?

"Expires" usually refers to something reaching a predetermined end date, while "lapses" suggests a temporary failure to maintain validity or a decline. A subscription "expires" on a certain date, while a policy "lapses" if payments are not made.