expire
verb
ex·pire
ik-ˈspī(-ə)r 
usually for intransitive sense 3 and transitive sense 2 ek-
expired; expiring
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
Ed Haislmaier3
: to emit the breath
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
This week, Alina Habba, who was among Trump’s most notoriously combative criminal defense lawyers, is a likely casualty: Judges in New Jersey are nearly certain to nix any extension of her expiring interim term as the district’s U.S. attorney.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 21 July 2025
Third-quarter sales may spike before federal tax credit expires (Cox Automotive)
GM to make lower-cost battery cells at Tennessee plant.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Grillo previously addressed the landing in another Instagram Stories post, which has since expired.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 July 2025
What to know before tax credits expire Sept. 30
Younger adults who are buying their first new car, Anderson said, are among potential buyers who are the most likely to benefit from the new tax deduction on car loan interest.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for expire
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.
Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 21 July 2025
Third-quarter sales may spike before federal tax credit expires (Cox Automotive)
GM to make lower-cost battery cells at Tennessee plant.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Grillo previously addressed the landing in another Instagram Stories post, which has since expired.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 July 2025
What to know before tax credits expire Sept. 30
Younger adults who are buying their first new car, Anderson said, are among potential buyers who are the most likely to benefit from the new tax deduction on car loan interest.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for expire
Cite this Entry
“Expire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expire. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expire
verb
ex·pire
ik-ˈspī(ə)r
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
: 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
J. D. RatcliffLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share