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Definition and meaning of English word "expense"

expense

/ɪkˈspɛns/

Meaning

Noun

A spending or consuming, often a disbursement of funds.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language team

How to use

In everyday conversation, expense is often used to describe a specific cost or expenditure, such as a bill or a purchase. In formal contexts, such as financial reports or tax returns, expenses are typically listed as a category or a total amount. When using the word expense in English, be mindful of the verb tense: for example, 'I incur an expense' is correct, but 'I incur an expense's' is incorrect.

🇬🇧 English

expense

Example

Buying the car was a big expense, but will be worth it in the long run.

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Synonyms

costexpenditureoutlay

Common phrases

  • business expense— business expense
  • personal expense— personal expense
  • operating expense— operating expense

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This concept in other languages

Frequency rank: #1111 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "expense" mean?▼

The English word "expense" means "expense" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "expense"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "expense" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "expense"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "Buying the car was a big expense, but will be worth it in the long run." (which translates as "expense").

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