Spend Time – Meaning and Examples
Imagine planning your day. You might allocate a few hours for work, an hour for exercise, and some time with your family. When you use your time, attention, or effort on a particular activity or person, you spend time. This essential phrase is one of the most common ways to talk about prioritizing activities and managing your schedule.
What Does “Spend Time” Mean?
The phrase “spend time” means to use a period of time on a particular task, event, or in the company of others. It implies that time is a resource, much like money, which can be spent wisely or poorly. It is frequently followed by the preposition **on** (for tasks) or **with** (for people).
When to Use It
You can use spend time when discussing schedules, effort, leisure, or relationships.
- Activities/Tasks: I need to spend time researching this topic before the meeting.
- Relationships: It’s important to spend time with your children every day.
- Location: They spent time on the beach during their vacation.
This phrase is used across all levels of formality.
Example Sentences
- We should spend time reviewing the financial reports to ensure accuracy.
- The manager prefers to spend time with his team to understand their challenges.
- She spent time learning how to play the piano while recovering from her injury.
- Don’t spend too much time worrying about small details.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “Are you going to the gym tonight?”
Jamie: “No, I decided to spend time reading a book instead. I needed a break.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Remember to always include the preposition (**on** or **with**) or the specific time period when using this phrase.
❌ Don’t: “I will spend time my homework.” (This is incorrect. Missing “on.”)
✅ Do: “I will spend time on my homework.” (This is correct.)
✅ Do: “I will spend an hour on my homework.” (This is also correct.)
Practice Tip
Think of an important relationship in your life. Write one sentence about how you plan to spend time with that person this week.
Final Note
Using spend time clearly defines your priorities and actions. Practice using the correct prepositions to make your English sound natural!
