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to spare

to spare

169 4.8
Use something carefully to avoid wasting it
  • verb
  • /spɛr/
translation icon : racionar
  • One can understand why these prime ministers had little time and energy to spare on domestic issues.
  • spare energy

There's, there's evidence that when, so when your neurons use lactate, they spare glucose.

Examples

  • You should try to spare some time each week for exercise.

  • You can spare one hour a day to fully focus on yourself.

  • We'll look into it, soon as I can spare the men.

  • We got two hours to spare!

  • I'm glad you were able to spare the time.

  • But I really don't have anyone to spare to teach him right now.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Students work very hard at school, sparing little time for leisure or social life.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The program included a library of standard mold bases to spare users the task of modeling them.

    Academic text (1999)
  • You've almost reached your decision gate, and I can't spare you any more time.

  • We can spare an imaginary company of infantry for this particular plan, Mikhail Mikanich.

Synonyms

to save
vsto spare
644 1.0

Use less of something to avoid waste

uses things carefully without causing shortage
to skimp
vsto spare
16 5.8

Use less of something than is needed to save money or time

avoids making amounts too small or inadequate

Antonyms

469 1.2

Careless use of money, time, or other resources

67 6.5

To use money, time, or chances in a foolish way

Idioms

Do everything possible to achieve something

More energy than you need for an activity

To avoid making someone feel embarrassed

Phrasal Verbs

64 3.7

More than you need, for example money or time

Compounds

65 1.0

Time when you are not working or busy and can choose what to do

spare part
  • Specialized
20 3.0

An extra item kept to replace a broken piece in a machine

14 1.0

Small coins or money you do not need and carry with you

spare tire
  • Offensive
3 4.9

Extra fat around the waist that looks like a round band

An activity done in free time for fun or rest

How Frugal

to hoard
45 4.8
to spare
169 4.8
to save
842 1.0
to conserve
63 3.4
to use
1.0
waste
469 1.2

Surface Forms

spare infinitive
spared past
spared past participle
sparing present participle
spares third person singular

Etymology

Spare originally meant 'to save' or 'hold back', so to spare water is to use it carefully and keep some for later.