# spare

/ˈspɛɹ/ (US) · /spˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spare
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. extra or additional

adjective · CEFR A2

available to use because it is extra and not currently needed.

For teachers: held in reserve as an extra or additional item for use when the primary is unavailable.

- We have a spare bedroom if you want to stay the night.
- The technician kept a spare set of cables in the van to ensure that any hardware failures could be addressed immediately without returning to the warehouse.

### 2. plain or simple

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

plain and simple, without any extra decoration or detail.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of ornamentation or excess; lean and economical in style.

- The poet is known for her spare and beautiful writing style.
- The architect's spare design relied on the quality of the raw concrete and natural light rather than applied decoration.

### 3. to give or afford

verb · CEFR B1

to give something to someone because you do not need it yourself.

For teachers: to manage to give or lend something, such as time or money, without inconvenience.

- Can you spare a few minutes to help me with this box?
- Despite her busy schedule, the professor managed to spare an hour to review the graduate student's preliminary findings.

### 4. to show mercy

verb · CEFR B2

to not hurt or destroy someone or something when you have the power to do so.

For teachers: to refrain from harming, punishing, or killing; to allow to go free.

- The king decided to spare the prisoner's life at the last moment.
- The invading army was ordered to spare the historic library, as the general valued the preservation of cultural heritage over total destruction.

### 5. to prevent something unpleasant

verb · CEFR B2

to prevent someone from having to experience something difficult or boring.

For teachers: to save someone from the necessity of doing or experiencing something unpleasant.

- I will spare you the boring details of my long commute.
- The witness was asked to summarise her statement to spare the family the trauma of hearing the graphic details again.

### 6. a replacement part

noun · CEFR B1

an extra item, like a tyre or a key, kept in case the first one breaks.

For teachers: a duplicate or replacement part kept in reserve for emergency use.

- If you lose your house key, there is a spare under the flowerpot.
- The driver realised he had a flat tyre but was relieved to find a full-sized spare in the trunk.

### 7. bowling term

noun · CEFR B2

knocking down all the pins using two tries in one turn.

For teachers: the act of knocking down all ten pins with the second ball of a frame.

- She got a spare in the final round and won the game.
- After failing to knock down all the pins with his first delivery, the bowler managed a difficult spare by clipping the remaining pin on the far left.

## Examples

- I always keep a spare in the trunk of my car.
- The mechanic checked the tire and realized the driver didn't have a spare in the back.
- While the primary generator is robust, the facility maintains a high-capacity spare to ensure that critical systems remain operational during a prolonged power outage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.