ENGLISH
REFERENCE

expires

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɪkˈspaɪɝz// UK //ɛkspˈaɪəz// ex·pires

v. to come to an end or stop being valid. You usually see this on food labels or official documents like passports.

v. to reach the end of a validity period or a fixed term. Intransitive — does not take a direct object.


SIMPLE

My driver's license expires next month.

CONTEXTUAL

The milk expires tomorrow, so we should use it to make pancakes for breakfast.

COMPLEX

The temporary contract expires at the end of the fiscal year, at which point the board must decide whether to renew the agreement or seek a new vendor.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object; the subject is typically the document, period, or substance that is ending.

Pitfall

The milk is expired tomorrowThe milk expires tomorrowLearners often use the passive 'is expired' for a future date, but the active voice 'expires' is required for scheduled endings.

© 2026 English Reference