verschwenden
Translation
to waste, to squander, to lavish
Examples
Verschwende nicht deine Zeit.
Don't waste your time.
Er verschwendet sein ganzes Geld.
He wastes all his money.
Sie verschwendet ihr Talent an diesen Job.
She is wasting her talent on this job.
Grammar Patterns
((et4)) verschwenden to waste sth. You are wasting your time.
((et4)) ((an+4)) verschwenden to waste sth. on sth. He wastes his money on useless things.
Similar Words
Synonyms: vergeuden, verprassen; Antonyms: sparen, haushalten
Etymology
From the prefix 'ver-' (indicating something going wrong or away) and 'schwenden' (related to 'dwindle' or 'vanish'). So, to make something vanish wrongly.
Memory Tips
Think of 'ver-' as a negative prefix and 'schwenden' sounds a bit like 'spend'. So, 'spending' something until it's gone is 'wasting' it.