expire

verb

ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce expire (audio)
 usually for intransitive sense 3 and transitive sense 2  ek-
expired; expiring
Synonyms of expirenext

intransitive verb

1
: to breathe one's last breath : die
2
: to come to an end: such as
a
: to exceed its period of validity
The contract will expire next month.
b
: to pass its expiration date (see expiration date sense 2)
This milk has expired.
" … when drugs expire, you can't just leave these things lying around."— Ed Haislmaier
3
: to emit the breath

transitive verb

1
obsolete : conclude
2
: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs
3
archaic : emit

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of expire in a Sentence

My driver's license has expired. She expired after a long illness. measuring the volume of air expired from the lungs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yuichi Yamazaki | Afp | Getty Images Garden said that a growing audience is changing the way the league is thinking about its next media rights contract, with both its international and domestic deals expiring after the 2028 season. — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025 The three-pointer streak ended, and the clock expired after a layup, turning what was a blowout into an exciting thriller at the end. — Ryan Morik, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025 Powell's term expires in 2026 but could be extended. Bedoya, speaking to NPR, warned that Trump could make that decision for Powell should Humphrey's Executor be overturned. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025 The complaint details Jones’ alleged move to hold Baldoni and Wayfarer to its contract that would expire in 2025. — Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expire

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Anglo-French espirer to breathe out, from Latin exspirare, from ex- + spirare to breathe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expire was in the 15th century

Rhymes for expire

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Browse Nearby Words

expire
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Cite this Entry

“Expire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expire. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

expire

verb
ex·​pire ik-ˈspī(ə)r How to pronounce expire (audio)
 usually for sense 3  ek-
expired; expiring
1
: to breathe one's last breath : die
2
: to come to an end : be no longer in force
this offer expires March 1
my driver's license has expired
3
a
: to let the breath out
b
: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs

Medical Definition

expire

verb
ex·​pire
ik-ˈspī(ə)r, usually for vi 2 and vt ek-
expired; expiring

intransitive verb

1
: to breathe one's last breath : die
2
: to emit the breath

transitive verb

: to breathe out from or as if from the lungs
the basal metabolism test … measures the amount of carbon dioxide expired by the lungs— J. D. Ratcliff

More from Merriam-Webster on expire

Nglish: Translation of expire for Spanish Speakers

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