spare

American  

[spair] / spɛər /

verb (used with object)

spared, sparing

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.

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verb (used without object)

spared, sparing

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

sparer, sparest

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.

spare British  

/ 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. to exert oneself to the full

9. more than is required

   two minutes to spare

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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

spare Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing spare

• to spare

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Related Words

See thin.

Other Word Forms

• spareable adjective
• sparely adverb
• spareness noun
• sparer noun

Etymology

Origin of spare

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

Explanation

Spare describes something that is extra. If you have a spare tire for your bike you can replace a flat, and if there's enough change in your pocket you can spare some to patch a friend's tire. As a noun, a verb, and an adjective, the word spare has many meanings. A leftover part is a spare, you can spare a life when you save an animal or person, and you have spare time when you finish a project early. If you "spare no expense" you spend lots of money and when you spare a friend's feelings, you keep upsetting details to yourself. And if you have a moment to spare, you have time to share.

Example Sentences

If judges will not step in, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee should use his clemency power to spare Carruthers.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

She almost dropped the ball into the path of Sveindis Jonsdottir late on too, but rescued it just in time to spare her blushes.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Furthermore, core prices have decelerated and the economy is operating with spare capacity, which should put a limit on price increases.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Investors have uneasily adjusted to a new normal, where companies that used to be some of the world’s biggest and most reliable free cash-flow generators now don’t have a lot of cash to spare.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

The boys had spent every spare moment practicing with the cardboard tubes that their aunt Gertrude had given them.

From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon

Related Words

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