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One spends or invests, the other squanders or wastes.
Side-by-side comparison
"Spend" is to use or pay something intentionally: money, time, or energy with a purpose. "Spend an hour reading" = dedicate an hour to reading. It does not imply a bad outcome.
She spent $200 on new shoes.
We spent the weekend at the beach.
He spends a lot of time reading.
"Waste" is to use something unnecessarily or without benefit. "Waste time" = spend time with no result. "Don't waste food" = do not throw food away. It always implies a loss.
Don't waste food. People are hungry.
She wasted three hours waiting for the bus.
Stop wasting money on things you do not need.
Common mistake
"Don't spend your time on that, it's useless" works, but if the point is that it was pointless or a loss, the more precise word is "waste": "Don't waste your time on that." "Spend" is neutral; "waste" always implies a negative or pointless outcome.
Trick to remember it
- •"Spend" = neutral (you use something; outcome may or may not be good).
- •"Waste" = always negative (the outcome was a loss or pointless).
- •Was it reasonable and intentional? "Spend." Was it pointless or irresponsible? "Waste."
Quick rule
Was the use intentional and reasonable? "Spend." Was the use pointless, irresponsible, or without benefit? "Waste."
Did you know?
"Waste of time" is one of the most used expressions in informal English. It has equally common variants: "waste of money," "waste of energy," and "waste of space", the last one, figuratively, for people who contribute nothing to a group or project. The word WASTE comes from Latin "vastus" (empty, barren, without value), the same root that gives "vast" (immense, wide). The original idea was of wasteland, a space that exists but produces nothing. From there it came to mean any use of resources that produces no value.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Don't _____ your time watching TV all day. Do something useful.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She _____ three hours preparing for the interview. It was worth it.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
'Adopt' means to take something on as your own; 'adapt' means to adjust to something new.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy