spend over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spend over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the amount of money or time that exceeds a certain limit. Example: "I tend to spend over my budget when shopping for clothes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Five percent plan to spend over $500).

The New York Times

People spend over £9bn each year on these drinks.

The Guardian - Business

Half of all New Yorkers spend over a third of their income on rent; a third spend over half.

The Guardian

Free shipping if you spend over $40.

Forbes

Only 3 friends may spend over, to my oldest son.

Huffington Post

"We spend over half our time cleaning.

The New York Times - Science

We spend over an hour looking around.

The New York Times

Many hotels spend over $100,000 a year on guards.

The Economist

Children have been known to spend over 30% of their time at school.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

We spend over €1,500 a week on vegetables".

The Guardian

Every day, I spend over an hour getting dressed.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spend over" to indicate how time dedicated to a certain task exceed a certain amount. This conveys how much effort you give to something.

Common error

Avoid using "spend over" when you mean "spend on." "Spend over" indicates exceeding a limit, while "spend on" indicates the purpose of the spending. For instance, say "I spend over $100" (exceeding a limit) versus "I spend money on groceries" (purpose).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend over" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of exceeding a certain limit, typically in terms of money or time. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spend over" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate exceeding a specified amount, typically referring to money or time. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and enjoys widespread usage. It is commonly found in neutral and journalistic contexts such as newspapers. To avoid confusion, ensure it isn't used interchangeably with "spend on", which denotes purpose rather than exceeding a limit. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "exceed" or "go beyond", depending on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceed

Focuses on surpassing a limit, often numerically.

go beyond

Implies surpassing a limit or expectation.

surpass

Similar to exceed, but can also refer to outperforming.

invest more than

Specifically relates to spending money and can imply a return.

allocate above

Suggests assigning more resources than a set amount.

dedicate in excess of

Refers to spending time or effort more than a certain amount.

devote beyond

Similar to dedicate, implying a commitment of resources or time.

outlay more than

Specifically relates to spending money, often in a formal or business context.

put in more than

Implies an investment of resources, time, or effort beyond a specified amount.

shell out upwards of

An informal way to say spend more than a certain amount.

FAQs

How can I use "spend over" in a sentence?

You can use "spend over" to indicate exceeding a certain amount of money or time. For example, "I tend to spend over my budget when shopping for clothes" or "They "spend over an hour" on their makeup every day".

What's a more formal alternative to "spend over"?

While "spend over" is acceptable in many contexts, you could use "exceed" for a more formal tone, particularly when discussing budgets or numerical limits. For instance, "The project's costs exceeded the initial estimates".

Is it correct to say "spend more than" instead of "spend over"?

Yes, "spend more than" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "spend over" and often conveys the same meaning. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context.

When should I use "spend on" versus "spend over"?

"Spend on" indicates the purpose or object of the spending (e.g., "I spend money on books"), while "spend over" indicates exceeding a certain amount (e.g., "I spend over $100 a month on books"). They have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.