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# squander

verb (squander, squanders, squandered, squandering)

«squander» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To squander something is to waste it foolishly, especially money, time or a chance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#m1)
2. To squander a chance or talent is to fail to use it well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#m2)

### In the lessons

In money lessons squandering means spending money on things you do not need until it is gone. In stories (like the prodigal son in the Bible) it shows a careless character who later regrets it. In sport a team squanders a lead when it loses after being ahead. Phrases: squander money, squander a chance, squander time.

### Examples

- He squandered all his pocket money on sweets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x1)
- Don't squander your time on silly games. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x2)
- The team squandered a three-goal lead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x3)
- She squandered her chance to win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x4)
- In the Bible story, the younger son squandered his father's money. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x5)
- It's a pity to squander such talent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x6)
- They squandered the water during the drought. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x7)
- The two eldest of these lived in rioting and feasting, and thus wasted and squandered their father’s wealth till nothing remained, and they found themselves in want and misery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/#x8)

### Note

Past form: squandered. It is stronger than «waste» and shows blame. Opposite: save, use wisely. In maths, «he squandered half of his 20 dollars» means he lost 10, so 10 is left.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «squander» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squander/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«squander» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/squander.html) on Mova free.