Expires — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb phrase /ik-ˈspī(-ə)r/ ex·pire

Meaning & Definition of Expires

Expires (verb)

  1. to breathe one's last breath, die
  2. to come to an end
  3. to exceed its period of validity

Expires (phrase)

  1. play stops (in a game) because there is no more time

Expires (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come to an end

    "speakers will not be allowed to continue after their allotted time has expired"

    similar: breaks off, breaks up, ceases, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies, discontinues, elapses, ends, finishes, goes, halts, lapses, leaves off, lets up, passes, quits, stops, terminates, winds up, winks (out), bites the dust
    related: desists (from), lays off (of), refrains (from), gives over (British), knocks off, packs (up or in), breaks down, conks (out), cuts out, stalls, pauses, stays, suspends, abates, peters (out), winds down
    opposite: continues, hangs on, persists
    near: draws out, extends, prolongs, protracts

  2. to let or force out of the lungs

    "he vows to hold on to that belief until he expires his last breath"

    similar: blows (out), breathes (out), exhales, expels
    related: expectorates
    opposite: inbreathes, inhales, inspires

  3. to stop living

    "made one last visit to his homeland and expired not long afterwards"

    similar: checks out, conks (out), croaks (slang), deceases, demises, departs, dies, drops, ends, exits, falls, flatlines, goes, kicks in (slang), kicks off (slang), parts, passes away, passes (on), pegs out (chiefly British), perishes, pops off, steps out, succumbs, bites the dust, buys it, gives up the ghost, kicks the bucket, snuffs it (British)
    related: predeceases, consumes, disappears, dries up, fades, fails
    opposite: breathes, lives
    near: comes to, revives, lingers, exists, is, subsists, flourishes, prospers, thrives

  4. to throw or give off

    "linden trees expiring their rich perfume"

    similar: casts, discharges, emanates, emits, evolves, exhales, expels, gives out, irradiates, issues, radiates, releases, sends (out), shoots, throws out, vents
    related: eliminates, evacuates, excretes, exudes, oozes, secretes, ejects, erupts, gushes, jets, outpours, pours, spews, spouts, sprays, spurts, squirts
    near: absorbs, inhales, soaks (up), sponges, sucks (up), takes up

Related Entry: Expire (verb)

Expire is a different word from Expires. The synonyms below are for expire, not for expires.

  1. to come to an end

    "speakers will not be allowed to continue after their allotted time has expired"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

  2. to let or force out of the lungs

    "he vows to hold on to that belief until he expires his last breath"

    similar: blow (out), breathe (out), exhale, expel
    related: expectorate
    opposite: inbreathe, inhale, inspire

  3. to stop living

    "made one last visit to his homeland and expired not long afterwards"

    similar: check out, conk (out), croak (slang), decease, demise, depart, die, drop, end, exit, fall, flatline, go, kick in (slang), kick off (slang), part, pass (on), pass away, peg out (chiefly British), perish, pop off, step out, succumb, bite the dust, buy it, give up the ghost, kick the bucket, snuff it (British)
    related: predecease, consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail
    opposite: breathe, live
    near: come to, revive, linger, be, exist, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive

  4. to throw or give off

    "linden trees expiring their rich perfume"

    similar: cast, discharge, emanate, emit, evolve, exhale, expel, give out, irradiate, issue, radiate, release, send (out), shoot, throw out, vent
    related: eliminate, evacuate, excrete, exude, ooze, secrete, eject, erupt, gush, jet, outpour, pour, spew, spout, spray, spurt, squirt
    near: absorb, inhale, soak (up), sponge, suck (up), take up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Expires

The most common words with a similar meaning to Expires:

Slang: croaks, kicks in, kicks off
Chiefly British: pegs out
British: snuffs it
breaks off, breaks up, ceases, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies, discontinues, elapses, ends, finishes, goes, halts, lapses, leaves off, lets up, passes, quits, stops, terminates, winds up, winks (out), blows (out), breathes (out), exhales, expels, checks out, conks (out), deceases, demises, departs, drops, exits, falls, flatlines, parts, passes away, passes (on), perishes

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Expires

Words with the opposite meaning of Expires:

continues, hangs on, persists, inbreathes, inhales, inspires, breathes, lives

Related Words for Expires

desists (from), lays off (of), refrains (from), gives over, knocks off, packs (up or in), breaks down, cuts out, stalls, pauses, stays, suspends, abates, peters (out), winds down, expectorates, predeceases, consumes, disappears, dries up, fades, fails, eliminates, evacuates, excretes, exudes, oozes, secretes, ejects, erupts

Near Antonyms of Expires

draws out, extends, prolongs, protracts, comes to, revives, lingers, exists, is, subsists, flourishes, prospers, thrives, absorbs, soaks (up), sponges, sucks (up), takes up

Word Forms of Expires

Inflections: expired, expiring

Origin & Etymology of Expires

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 centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Expires

time expires

Frequently Asked Questions about Expires

What does "Expires" mean?

"Expires" means to breathe one's last breath, die. As an a verb and a phrase, it is defined as: to breathe one's last breath, die. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Expires"?

Other words for "Expires" include breaks off, breaks up, ceases, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines and dies. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Expires" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Expires"?

There are 105 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Expires". Common alternatives include breaks off, breaks up, ceases, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies, discontinues and elapses.

What is a slang word for "Expires"?

Slang words for "Expires" include croaks, kicks in and kicks off.

What is the opposite of "Expires"?

Antonyms of "Expires" include continues, hangs on, persists, inbreathes, inhales, inspires, breathes and lives. Near antonyms include draws out, extends, prolongs and protracts.

How do you use "Expires" in a sentence?

Examples of "Expires" in a sentence: "speakers will not be allowed to continue after their allotted time has expired"; "he vows to hold on to that belief until he expires his last breath"; "made one last visit to his homeland and expired not long afterwards".

Is "Expires" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Expires" can be used as a verb and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Expires"?

"Expires" is pronounced /ik-ˈspī(-ə)r/ and divided into syllables as ex·pire.