One spends or invests, the other squanders or wastes.
Verb. To use or pay money, time, or energy intentionally. Does not imply a bad outcome.
She spent $200 on new shoes.
Ella gastó $200 en zapatos nuevos.
We spent the weekend at the beach.
Pasamos el fin de semana en la playa.
He spends a lot of time reading.
Él pasa mucho tiempo leyendo.
Verb. To use something unnecessarily, without benefit, or irresponsibly. Always implies a loss.
Don't waste food. People are hungry.
No desperdicies comida. Hay personas con hambre.
She wasted three hours waiting for the bus.
Ella desperdició tres horas esperando el autobús.
Stop wasting money on things you do not need.
Deja de desperdiciar dinero en cosas que no necesitas.
Common mistake
Using 'spend' when the negative implication of waste is the point. Wrong: "Don't spend your time on that, it's useless." (if you mean it is pointless, use: Don't waste your time on that.)
Trick to remember it
'Spend' = neutral (you use something; the outcome may or may not be good). 'Waste' = always negative (the outcome was a loss or pointless). Was it reasonable? 'Spend'. Was it pointless? 'Waste'.
Quick rule
Was the use intentional and reasonable? Use 'spend'. Was the use pointless, irresponsible, or without benefit? Use 'waste'.
Did you know?
'Waste of time' is one of the most used expressions in informal English. Also common: 'waste of money', 'waste of energy', and 'a waste of space' (figuratively, for people who contribute nothing). All signal pointlessness or irresponsibility.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Don't _____ your time on that project. It will never succeed.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
We _____ the afternoon at the museum. It was a wonderful experience.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Was the use intentional and reasonable? Use 'spend'. Was the use pointless, irresponsible, or without benefit? Use 'waste'.
Using 'spend' when the negative implication of waste is the point. Wrong: "Don't spend your time on that, it's useless." (if you mean it is pointless, use: Don't waste your time on that.)
'Spend' = neutral (you use something; the outcome may or may not be good). 'Waste' = always negative (the outcome was a loss or pointless). Was it reasonable? 'Spend'. Was it pointless? 'Waste'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy