What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
expend
Example
The company will need to expend more resources to complete the project on time. [expend: verb]
Example
He expended a lot of energy trying to finish the marathon. [expended: past tense]
spend
Example
I spent all my money on groceries this week. [spend: verb]
Example
She spent hours studying for the exam. [spent: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spend is more commonly used than expend in everyday language. Spend is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while expend is less common and typically used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between expend and spend?
Expend is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, while spend is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
