spend on + thing
Paying money or giving attention
On introduces the thing receiving money, time, or effort.
He spent too much on clothes.
Spend on or spend in?
Spend on is the standard pattern for money or effort. Spend in usually appears with places or periods of time, not with purchases.
Quick answer
Spend on vs spend in
Use spend on for the thing receiving money, time, or effort. Use spend in for a place, environment, or period where time is passed.
She spent thousands on repairs.
They spent the summer in Italy.
The company spends heavily on research.
They spent the summer in Italy.
The company spends heavily on research.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
spend + time in + place
Passing time somewhere
In refers to the location where time is spent.
We spent a week in Berlin.
spend + period doing something
Using time for an activity
Spend can also be followed by a gerund.
She spent the evening reading.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
spend on + thing
They spent more on transport this year.
Standard for money, effort, or attention.
spend in + place
He spent two months in Canada.
Shows where time was passed.
spend + time doing
I spent hours preparing the report.
Shows an activity taking time.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using in for purchases
Use on for the item receiving money.
✕ She spent a lot in furniture. ✓ She spent a lot on furniture.Forgetting the place after in
In normally introduces a location or setting.
✕ They spent in all day. ✓ They spent all day in the office.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. We spent too much money ___ advertising.
2. She spent three years ___ Tokyo.
3. He spent the afternoon ___ emails.
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Frequently asked questions
Is spend on the most common pattern?
Yes. Use it for money, time, effort, or attention directed at something.
When is spend in correct?
Use it with places or environments, especially when talking about time.
Can spend be followed by a verb?
Yes. It is often followed by a gerund, such as spend time studying.
Related preposition guides
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