Spend or Spent (Explained, Examples & Worksheet)

What's the past tense of "spend"?

The simple past tense of spend is spent, and the past participle is also spent. Use spent for both simple past and past participle forms.

Definition of spend

The Oxford English Dictionary defines spend as "to use money, time, or energy for a particular purpose." It's used in various contexts, from spending money to spending time or expending energy.

• The past tense of spend is spent.

• The past participle of spend is spent.

Verb forms of 'spend'

Is "spend" a regular or irregular verb?

Spend is an irregular verb. Its past tense and past participle form is spent, not spended. This verb follows a pattern where the final "d" changes to "t" in both the past tense and past participle.

When to use "spent" (past) vs. "spent" (participle)

She spent all her savings on a new car.

I have spent too much this month.

The verb spend uses the same form spent for both simple past tense and past participle forms. This is characteristic of many irregular verbs where the past tense and past participle are identical.

When used as a past participle (shown in the second sentence), it requires an auxiliary verb like have, has, or had. The simple past doesn't use a helper verb since it's a complete tense, so spent can stand alone in sentences.

Remember, a participle always uses a helper verb, while the simple past tense stands alone as a complete verb form.

Sentence examples: spend, spent, spent

Synonyms & nearby words

Common phrases with "spend" (detailed)

FAQs

Sources

1. "Spend, V. (1)." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/186204.