Spent vs. Spend — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
'Spent' is the past tense of 'spend', referring to the use of resources or energy in the past. 'Spend' indicates the current or future action of using resources or energy.
Difference Between Spent and Spend
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Key Differences
'Spent' is the past participle of 'spend' and denotes an action that has already been completed. When someone says they have 'spent' something, they refer to the act of using up or exhausting resources or time in the past. On the other hand, 'spend' is the present tense form and indicates the current act of expending or using resources, time, or energy. It suggests an ongoing action or an action yet to occur.
'Spend' involves a decision or action that is currently being made or is planned for the future. For instance, "I will spend my vacation in Hawaii." It shows intention or a plan. 'Spent', however, communicates that the action is finished, and the resources have been used, as in "I spent my vacation in Hawaii." It is declarative of a past event.
Both words reflect the action of using resources, but their use depends on the time frame of the action. 'Spend' can also be used in various tenses with the help of auxiliary verbs to denote different times, while 'spent' is specifically for actions that were completed in the past. For example, 'will spend' talks about future intention, whereas 'spent' does not require auxiliary verbs to indicate past action.
While 'spent' is also an adjective meaning exhausted or used up, 'spend' can never be used as an adjective. If someone is 'spent', they are out of energy or resources. 'Spend', however, is strictly a verb. Furthermore, 'spend' requires an object - you must spend something - whereas 'spent' can stand alone, as in "I am completely spent."
'Spent' also conveys a sense of finality. When money is 'spent', it has been paid out and is no longer in possession. 'Spend', as a verb, doesn't imply this finality; it is the act of paying out money or using resources. 'Spend' might suggest a deliberate action, whereas 'spent' often refers to the result of that action.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Past participle; can also be an adjective.
Base form; always a verb.
Time Reference
Past action or condition.
Present or future action.
Usage as Adjective
Can be used to describe an exhausted state.
Cannot be used as an adjective.
Tense
Does not require auxiliary verbs for past tense.
Requires auxiliary verbs for other tenses.
Implication
Finality of action.
Act or intention of using resources.
Compare with Definitions
Spent
Having used money.
He spent his last dollar on a meal.
Spend
To expend or consume by using.
We should spend less water during the drought.
Spent
Exhausted of energy.
After the marathon, she was completely spent.
Spend
To use energy.
She likes to spend her mornings in a workout session.
Spent
Used up resources.
The fuel is spent, so we can't continue our trip.
Spend
To use up or put out; expend
Spent an hour exercising.
Spent
To have given effort.
She spent her energy on the project and succeeded.
Spend
To pay out (money).
Spent
Expired or no longer valid.
The spent fireworks littered the ground.
Spend
To wear out; exhaust
The storm finally spent itself.
Spent
Past and past participle of spend
Spend
To pass (time) in a specified manner or place
Spent their vacation in Paris.
Spent
Having been used and unable to be used again
A spent matchstick
Spend
To throw away; squander
Spent all their resources on futile projects.
Spent
Past tense and past participle of spend.
Spend
To give up (one's time or efforts, for example) to a cause; sacrifice.
Spent
Having been put to use and therefore unavailable for use
Spent shell casings.
Spend
To pay out or expend money.
Spent
Depleted of energy, force, or strength; exhausted
Spent laborers.
Spend
To be exhausted or consumed.
Spent
Depleted or nearly depleted of fissionable material
Spent nuclear fuel.
Spend
An amount of money spent on something
Doubled the spend on computers.
Spent
Consumed, used up, exhausted, depleted.
A spent cartridge
Spend
The spending of money; expenditure
The management of spend.
Spent
Of fish: exhausted as a result of having spawned.
Spend
(ambitransitive) To pay out (money).
He spends far more on gambling than he does on living proper.
Spent
Of legislation or an enactment: no longer in force due to all of its provisions having expired or been completed.
Spend
To bestow; to employ; often with on or upon.
Spent
Of a conviction: no longer appearing on a person's criminal record.
Spend
(dated) To squander.
To spend an estate in gambling
Spent
Simple past tense and past participle of spend
Spend
To exhaust, to wear out.
The violence of the waves was spent.
Spent
Exhausted; worn out; having lost energy or motive force.
Now thou seest meSpent, overpowered, despairing of success.
Heaps of spent arrows fall and strew the ground.
Spend
To consume, to use up (time).
My sister usually spends her free time in nightclubs.
We spent the winter in the south of France.
Spent
Exhausted of spawn or sperm; - said especially of fishes.
Spend
To have an orgasm; to ejaculate sexually.
Spent
Drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted;
The day's shopping left her exhausted
He went to bed dog-tired
Was fagged and sweaty
The trembling of his played out limbs
Felt completely washed-out
Only worn-out horses and cattle
You look worn out
Spend
(intransitive) To waste or wear away; to be consumed.
Energy spends in the using of it.
Spent
Having all been spent;
The money is all gone
Spend
To be diffused; to spread.
Spend
(mining) To break ground; to continue working.
Spend
Amount of money spent (during a period); expenditure.
I’m sorry, boss, but the advertising spend exceeded the budget again this month.
Spend
(in the plural) Expenditures; money or pocket money.
Spend
Discharged semen.
Spend
Vaginal discharge.
Spend
To weigh or lay out; to dispose of; to part with; as, to spend money for clothing.
Spend thou that in the town.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?
Spend
To bestow; to employ; - often with on or upon.
I . . . am never loathTo spend my judgment.
Spend
To consume; to waste; to squander; to exhaust; as, to spend an estate in gaming or other vices.
Spend
To pass, as time; to suffer to pass away; as, to spend a day idly; to spend winter abroad.
We spend our years as a tale that is told.
Spend
To exhaust of force or strength; to waste; to wear away; as, the violence of the waves was spent.
Their bodies spent with long labor and thirst.
Spend
To expend money or any other possession; to consume, use, waste, or part with, anything; as, he who gets easily spends freely.
He spends as a person who knows that he must come to a reckoning.
Spend
To waste or wear away; to be consumed; to lose force or strength; to vanish; as, energy spends in the using of it.
The sound spendeth and is dissipated in the open air.
Spend
To be diffused; to spread.
The vines that they use for wine are so often cut, that their sap spendeth into the grapes.
Spend
To break ground; to continue working.
Spend
Pass (time) in a specific way;
How are you spending your summer vacation?
Spend
Pay out;
Spend money
Spend
Spend completely;
I spend my pocket money in two days
Spend
To pay out money.
I spend too much on coffee.
Spend
To use time in a particular manner.
Let's spend the day at the beach.
Spend
To invest.
He plans to spend more time with his family.
Common Curiosities
Is 'spend' ever used as a noun?
No, 'spend' is always a verb; 'spending' would be the noun form.
Is it correct to say 'I spend my vacation last year'?
No, the correct form is 'I spent my vacation last year'.
Can 'spent' ever be used in the present tense?
No, 'spent' is strictly for past actions or states of being exhausted.
What does 'I am spent' mean?
It means 'I am completely exhausted' or 'I have no energy left'.
Can 'spent' refer to objects?
Yes, it can describe objects that have been used up, like 'spent cartridges'.
Does 'spend' always involve money?
No, 'spend' can also refer to time, effort, or other resources.
What's the past perfect form of 'spend'?
The past perfect form is 'had spent'.
Is 'spent' used in financial contexts?
Yes, it refers to money that has been used or paid out.
Can 'spent' be a condition as well as an action?
Yes, 'spent' can describe being out of energy or having used resources in the past.
How do you use 'spend' to talk about the future?
Combine 'spend' with 'will' to indicate a future action, e.g., 'I will spend'.
Can 'spend' be passive?
Yes, e.g., 'Money was spent on the project'.
Can 'spent' be used without an object?
Yes, especially when it's used as an adjective to describe exhaustion.
Can 'spent' indicate waste?
It can, as in resources not used effectively, like 'spent foolishly'.
What is a synonym for 'spend'?
'Expend' can be a synonym for 'spend'.
How does 'spent' work in passive sentences?
'Spent' can describe the state after an action, e.g., 'The money was spent.'
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
