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to spare

to spare

77 3.5
Decide not to hurt someone even though you could
  • verb
  • /spɛr/
translation icon : librar (a alguien) de
  • Why would he spare one of us?
  • spare someone's life
  • spare a woman

Examples

Synonyms

to protect
vsto spare
1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

chooses not to harm when able rather than actively guarding
to save
vsto spare
1.0

Rescue someone or something from danger

chooses not to harm when able rather than actively rescuing

Antonyms

738 1.0

To cause a bad effect on people or things

53 1.6

Cause harm to people or things, for example to a company's good name

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 Harmful

to kill
  • NSFW
1.0
to injure
53 1.6
to hurt
1.0
to spare
77 3.5

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Spare in the sense of not harming someone is linked to 'save': to spare a life is to choose not to hurt or kill, to let that person be 'saved'.