to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy

to spare one's enemy.

to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for

His harsh criticism spared no one.

to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it

to spare him the bother; to spare her needless embarrassment.

to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech

Spare us the gory details.

to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse

to spare the rod.

to set aside for a particular purpose

to spare land for a garden.

to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience or loss

Can you spare a cup of sugar? Can you spare me a dollar till payday?

to dispense with or do without

We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.

to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting

A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!

to have remaining as excess or surplus

We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.

to use economy; be frugal.

to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.

Obsolete . to refrain from action; forbear.

kept in reserve, as for possible use

a spare part.

being in excess of present need; free for other use

spare time.

frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet

a spare regime.

lean or thin, as a person.

scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.

sparing, economical, or temperate, as persons.

a spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.

Ceramics . an area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.

Bowling .

the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.

a score so made. Compare strike ( def. 69 ) .

adjective

necessary , fat , thick

verb

need

adjective

additional , backup , de trop , emergency , free , in excess , in reserve , in store , lagniappe , leftover , more than enough , odd , option , over , supererogatory , superfluous , supernumerary , surplus , unoccupied , unused , unwanted , angular , bony , economical , exiguous , frugal , gaunt , lank , lanky , lean , meager , modest , poor , rangy , rawboned , scant , scanty , scraggy , scrawny , shadow , skimpy , skinny , slender , slight , slim , sparing , stick , stilt , stingy , wiry , excess , extra , puny , sparse , thin , fleshless , twiggy , weedy

verb

afford , allow , bestow , dispense with , give , grant , part with , pinch , provide , put by , relinquish , salt away * , save , scrape , scrimp , short , skimp , stint , supply , absolve , bail out , be lenient , be merciful , discharge , dispense , excuse , exempt , forbear , get off the hook , get out of hock , give a break , give quarter to , go easy on , leave , let go , let off * , pardon , pity , privilege from , pull out of the fire , refrain from , release , relent , relieve from , save bacon , save from , save neck , spring , let off , relieve , conserve , additional , duplicate , emergency , excess , extra , free , leftover , refrain , replacement , substitute , surplus