Word
squander
Phoneticssquan·der, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskwɑndɝ/
UK/skwˈɒndɐ/
Definitions
01to waste resources
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to waste something valuable, like money or time, by using it in a silly or careless way.
v. to dissipate or spend resources wastefully or extravagantly. Transitive—always requires an object such as money, time, or talent.
“He managed to squander his entire inheritance on expensive cars and parties within a year.”
“The team cannot afford to squander another scoring opportunity if they hope to remain competitive in the final rounds of the tournament.”
02to scatter or disperse
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
v. to scatter or move in different directions.
v. to cause to separate and go in different directions; to disperse.
“The crowd began to squander as soon as the rain started to fall heavily.”
“In the old chronicles, the defeated army is described as having squandered across the countryside in total disarray.”
Real-World Examples
“The Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, fired a deflected 20-yard shot off the inside of a post as chances kept coming in the second half, and Usor squandered two excellent opportunities.” “In an interview with CBS News’s Face the Nation, the Florida representative who is locked in a tight race for re-election pleaded with the US president not to “squander” his relationship with Hispanic voters.” Etymology
Earliest uses (late 16th c.) "to spend recklessly or prodigiously", also "to scatter over a wide area". Of unknown origin. Perhaps a blend of scatter + wander. Compare Danish skvætte (rare)/skvatte (“to splash”) (nominalised: skvæt), Icelandic skvetta (“to squirt”), Swedish skvätta (“to splash”), Norwegian Bokmål skvette.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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