squander
part of speech
verb (squander, squanders, squandered, squandering)
meaning for a pupil
1) To squander something is to waste it foolishly, especially money, time or a chance. tree →
2) To squander a chance or talent is to fail to use it well. tree →
sense 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 →
- Don't squander your time on silly games. tree →
- The team squandered a three-goal lead. tree →
- She squandered her chance to win. tree →
- In the Bible story, the younger son squandered his father's money. tree →
- It's a pity to squander such talent. tree →
- They squandered the water during the drought. tree →
- 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 →
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.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «squander» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.