spent by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spent by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the allocation or use of resources, typically money or time, by someone or something. Example: "The funds were spent by the organization to support community projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that seemed to be spent by Friday morning.

The New York Times

It's private money being spent by a private organization".

The New York Times

A dollar spent by the government isn't destroyed.

The New York Times

A record $5.47 billion was spent by tourists last year.

The New York Times

Over $400 million was spent by these stealth operatives.

The New York Times

So almost $32 million spent by the company has vaporized.

The New York Times

That's what was being spent by the Brazilians and Spanish".

The New York Times

At least £10bn was spent by people paying for their own care and support, compared to £14bn spent by councils.

The Guardian

The rest of the day would be spent by humans.

Applied Water Science

The total does not include time spent by council staff.

BBC

The cost was lower than anticipated, with $2.7 billion spent by U.S. agencies and £150 million spent by Wellcome Trust.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spent by", ensure the subject performing the action is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The budget was spent by the marketing team" is clearer than "The budget was spent."

Common error

Avoid using "spent by" when the active voice would be more direct and concise. For instance, instead of "Time was spent by the researchers analyzing data", consider "The researchers spent time analyzing data."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spent by" functions as a prepositional phrase that indicates agency in resource allocation. It connects an action (spending) with the entity responsible for that action. As Ludwig AI indicates, the examples show how it is used to describe how time, money, or energy is used by a person, organization, or system.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spent by" serves as a prepositional phrase indicating the allocation of resources, typically money, time, or energy, by a specific entity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts such as scientific research, news reporting, and business communication. While the phrase is versatile, opting for the active voice often results in clearer and more concise sentences. Common alternatives include "utilized by", "consumed by", and "invested by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. As "spent by" is widely used across a variety of contexts, it represents a valuable expression in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocated by

Suggests a deliberate distribution of resources among various recipients or uses.

utilized by

Replaces "spent" with a synonym that emphasizes practical use or application.

employed by

Focuses on the purposeful use of resources or methods to achieve a specific goal.

administered by

Focuses on the management and oversight of resources, programs or policies.

applied by

Stresses the practical implementation or use of something, such as knowledge or skills.

consumed by

Focuses on the depletion or exhaustion of resources, often implying a more passive process.

disbursed by

Emphasizes the distribution of funds or resources, often in a formal or official capacity.

invested by

Highlights the allocation of resources with the expectation of future benefits or returns.

devoted by

Emphasizes the dedication of time, effort or resources towards a specific purpose.

exercised by

Highlights the active application of power, authority or rights by an entity.

FAQs

How can I use "spent by" in a sentence?

The phrase "spent by" indicates the allocation or use of something, typically money or time, by an entity. For example, "The funds were "spent by" the organization to support community projects."

What are some alternatives to "spent by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "utilized by", "consumed by", or "invested by" to convey similar meanings.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "spent by"?

While "spent by" is grammatically correct, using the active voice often results in a more concise and direct sentence. For example, instead of "The budget was "spent by" the marketing team", you could say "The marketing team spent the budget."

What's the difference between "spent by" and "used by"?

"Used by" is a more general term that indicates something was employed for a purpose, while ""spent by"" typically refers to the allocation of resources, particularly money or time. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.