Verb

auf|wenden

Translation

to spend, to expend, to apply, to dedicate

Wir müssen viel Zeit dafür aufwenden.

We have to spend a lot of time on it.

Er musste sein ganzes Geld aufwenden.

He had to spend all his money.

((sth.)) ((for sth.)) to spend, expend (sth.) for (sth.) We have to expend a lot of energy for this project.

Synonyms: to spend, to invest; Antonyms: to save, to earn

From 'auf' (on, for) and 'wenden' (to turn). The idea is 'turning' one's resources 'onto' a task.

Think of turning ('wenden') your efforts 'onto' ('auf') a project, thereby expending them.