spare

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "spare" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb (meaning to have or give something that is not needed by oneself), an adjective (meaning extra or additional), a noun (meaning a spare item or an extra item), or an adverb (meaning aside). Example sentence: I always keep a spare set of keys on hand, just in case.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Lifestyle

Books

TV & Radio

Business

Education

Society

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Access to treatment should not depend on whether someone can spare the money.

The Guardian

"Spare me.

The New York Times

We hereby pledge that we will spare no efforts until Dubai government achieves its vision to be one of the top 10 happiest cities in the world by 2021".

The Guardian

I'm relieved everything is so hunky dory in the health service that he can spare the time to kvetch about what Vicky Pryce puts on her stationery but I suspect the "vast majority of the public" are more scandalised by dodgy hospital death rates.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hannibal decides to spare his life, possibly because he desires connection with someone again, like he had with Will before he betrayed him.

The Guardian

"I kept looking at the clock and thinking: 'I can do it, I can do it.'" In the end he had plenty to spare, with Steve Ovett's 8min 13.51sec set in 1978 obliterated by Farah's 8min 07.85sec.

The Guardian - Sport

Turnbull revealed he had quickly sent a message to Palmer that he should "man up and apologise" and also called him to deliver the same message "in no uncertain terms" and that when he had been asked to write an opinion piece for a newspaper on the subject, he had asked Credlin's view before declining, because his primary motivation had been to spare her any further pain.

The Guardian

I know you're busy, but spare a few minutes to read at least some of it.

The Guardian

I think they have the people they need right now.' Cantona has little time to spare anyway, what with beach football and the movies.

The Guardian - Sport

If a student approaches you it's because they think you can help, so spare some time however busy you are.

The Guardian

No one likes to see a mechanical rob a rider of overall glory – but spare a though for Oscar Gatto, who had been the fastest man in the breakaway that rode away to victory in Forli and who was also the victim of a disastrously timed puncture that robbed him of a stage win.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spare" as a verb, be mindful of the object you are sparing. For example, "spare the details" is more concise than "don't give me the details."

Common error

Avoid confusing "spare", which indicates having something extra or refraining from doing something, with "spree", which refers to a period of unrestrained activity, like a shopping spree.

Linguistic Context

The word "spare" functions as a versatile term, acting as a verb, adjective, or noun. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it indicates having something available, refraining from something, or referring to an extra item. This is evident from examples like "I have no "spare" time" or "spare his life."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

15%

Business

10%

Less common in

Travel

8%

Lifestyle

7%

Education

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "spare" functions diversely as a verb, adjective, or noun, indicating availability, abstinence, or redundancy. Ludwig AI underlines its correct usage in written English. As a versatile word, "spare" sees prevalent application in News & Media, sports reporting, and business discourse. It maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communicative purposes, and ""withhold"" and "refrain from" may serve as alternatives depending on the specific context. Given its consistent, grammatically sound presence across numerous sources, "spare" stands as a reliable and adaptable choice in both written and spoken communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have available

This phrase directly indicates the presence of something that can be used.

extra

This alternative emphasizes the availability of something beyond what is needed.

additional

Similar to "extra", it highlights something more than the required amount.

reserve

This term indicates something kept back or saved for future use.

refrain from

This alternative focuses on abstaining or avoiding a particular action.

forgo

This suggests willingly giving up or doing without something.

withhold

This term means to hold back or keep something from being given.

thin

When describing a person's physique, this alternative indicates a lack of excess weight.

do without

This alternative focuses on managing in the absence of something.

lean

Similar to "thin", it emphasizes a lack of fat or excess.

FAQs

How can I use "spare" in a sentence?

You can use "spare" as a verb, adjective, or noun. As a verb: "Could you "spare" me a few minutes?". As an adjective: "We have a "spare" tire in the trunk". As a noun: "Do you have a "spare"?".

What are some synonyms for "spare" when used as an adjective?

When used as an adjective, synonyms for "spare" include "extra", "additional", and "reserve".

What does it mean to "spare someone's feelings"?

To ""spare" someone's feelings" means to avoid saying or doing something that might upset or hurt them. You might "withhold" information to protect their emotions.

Is it correct to say "I can't spare the time" or "I don't have time to spare"?

Both "I can't "spare" the time" and "I don't have time to "spare"" are correct and convey the same meaning: you don't have enough time available.