Past Tense of Spend
The past tense of “spend” is “spent,” and “spent” is also its past participle. The same irregular form is used for money, time, effort, and related senses.
Use “spent” as both the past simple and past participle of “spend.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| completed past use of money or time | spent | Use “spent” as the simple past. |
| perfect construction after have/has/had | spent | Use “spent” as the past participle. |
| present/base form | spend / spends | Keep the present form when no past form is required. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Do you need a past form of “spend”?
If yes: Use “spent” for both simple past and past participle.
If no: Use “spend” or “spends” in a present-tense context.
Examples
We spent the afternoon at the museum.
“Spent” is the simple past.
She has spent less this month.
“Spent” is the past participle after “has.”
They spend weekends with their family.
The habitual present uses “spend.”
Further guidance
Core difference
The verb “spend” changes to “spent” in both the past simple and past participle.
Fast Test
Use “spent” for a completed past action and after perfect auxiliaries: “we spent,” “we have spent.”
Usage Boundary
Do not form the standard past as *spended*.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- spend (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Preferred lexical authority directly documenting spend time doing something.