expire
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to stop being valid because a fixed period of time has ended.
to come to an end or cease to be valid; typically used of documents, contracts, or subscriptions.
Simple“I need to renew my driver's license before it expires next Tuesday.”
In context“The introductory offer is set to expire at midnight, after which the standard monthly subscription rate will be applied automatically.”
UsageThis verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object when referring to documents or time periods.
PitfallMy passport will be expired next month. My passport will expire next month.In this sense, 'expire' is an intransitive verb. You do not need the 'be' auxiliary to describe the action of running out.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to die or take a last breath.
to breathe one's last; to die. This usage is highly formal or literary.
Simple“The old king expired quietly in his sleep surrounded by his family.”
In context“The patient expired shortly after the final rites were administered, ending a long and courageous battle with the illness.”
Teacher's tipIn modern speech, 'died' or 'passed away' is much more common; 'expired' can sound cold or overly clinical when referring to people.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
to breathe air out of your lungs.
to exhale; to breathe out air from the lungs. This is the technical opposite of 'inspire' in a physiological context.
Simple“The doctor asked the patient to expire slowly into the tube.”
In context“During the stress test, the technician monitored the volume of air the athlete could expire in a single breath.”
UsageCan be used both transitively (to expire air) and intransitively.
“Trump's threat on Oman, which has been holding its own talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, comes as a 60-day window for peace negotiations expires.”
“Manufacturer contracts for connected services can also expire.”
From Middle English expire, from Middle French expirer, from Latin expīrō, exspīrō, from ex- (“out”) + spīrō (“breathe, be alive”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.