spare

[ spair ]

verb (used with object)

, spared, spar·ing.

1. to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy:

   to spare one's enemy.

2. to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for:

   His harsh criticism spared no one.

3. to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it: to spare her needless embarrassment.

   to spare him the bother;

   to spare her needless embarrassment.

4. to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech:

   Spare us the gory details.

5. to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse:

   to spare the rod.

6. to set aside for a particular purpose:

   to spare land for a garden.

   Synonyms: reserve

7. to give or lend, as from a supply, especially without inconvenience or loss: Can you spare me a dollar till payday?

   Can you spare a cup of sugar?

   Can you spare me a dollar till payday?

8. to dispense with or do without:

   We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.

9. to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting:

   A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!

10. to have remaining as excess or surplus:

    We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.

verb (used without object)

, spared, spar·ing.

1. to use economy; be frugal.
2. to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.
3. Obsolete. to refrain from action; forbear.

adjective

, spar·er, spar·est.

1. kept in reserve, as for possible use:

   a spare part.

2. being in excess of present need; free for other use:

   How do you like to relax in your spare time?

   My travel adventures seem to soak up any spare cash I earn.

   Synonyms: extra

3. frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet:

   a spare regime.

4. lean or thin, as a person.
5. scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.
6. economical, moderate, or temperate, as persons; sparing.

noun

1. a spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.
2. Ceramics. an area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.
3. Bowling.
   1. the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.
   2. a score so made. Compare strike ( def 69 ).

spare

/ spɛə /

verb

1. tr to refrain from killing, punishing, harming, or injuring
2. tr to release or relieve, as from pain, suffering, etc
3. tr to refrain from using

   spare the rod, spoil the child

4. tr to be able to afford or give

   I can't spare the time

5. usually passive (esp of Providence) to allow to survive

   I'll see you again next year if we are spared

6. rare.
   intr to act or live frugally
7. rare.
   intr to show mercy
8. not spare oneself
   to exert oneself to the full
9. to spare
   more than is required

   two minutes to spare

adjective

1. often immediately postpositive in excess of what is needed; additional

   are there any seats spare?

2. able to be used when needed

   a spare part

3. (of a person) thin and lean
4. scanty or meagre
5. slang.
   postpositive upset, angry, or distracted (esp in the phrase go spare )

noun

1. a duplicate kept as a replacement in case of damage or loss
2. a spare tyre
3. tenpin bowling
   1. the act of knocking down all the pins with the two bowls of a single frame
   2. the score thus made Compare strike

Derived Forms

• ˈsparely, adverb
• ˈspareness, noun
• ˈsparer, noun

Other Words From

• spare·a·ble adjective
• spare·ly adverb
• spare·ness noun
• spar·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spare¹

First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English sparen, Old English sparian; cognate with Dutch, German sparen, Old Norse spara; (noun and adjective) Middle English; compare Old English spær “sparing, frugal” (cognate with Old High German spar, Old Norse sparr

Word History and Origins

Origin of spare¹

Old English sparian to refrain from injuring; related to Old Norse spara, Old High German sparōn

Idioms and Phrases

• to spare

Synonym Study

See thin.

Example Sentences

He had successfully avoided injury for 10 games, but a flu outbreak that swept through USC’s locker room late last week didn’t spare the senior back.

From Los Angeles Times

“Knotwork LA was created as an outlet to identify the work we do in our spare time,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Then there were a bunch of vibrant green trees — spared from the inferno.

From Los Angeles Times

Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, may have been spared on Wednesday, but the message got through.

From BBC

By phasing out sugar, we could spare land that could be rewilded and stock up on carbon.

From Salon

Related Words

• afford
• allow
• give
• grant
• provide
• save