Let him be spared vs Spare

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Let him be spared

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Spare

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Most formal: Let him be spared Most common: Spare

	Let him be spared	Spare
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //lɛt hɪm bi spɛəd// 🇺🇸 //lɛt hɪm bi spɛrd//	🇬🇧 /["/speə(r)/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sper/"]/
Meaning	Allow him to be saved from something bad.	extra or unused.
Example	We prayed that he would be let him be spared from suffering.	He's studying music in his **spare time**.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	B2
Part of speech		adjective
Collocations	let him be spared, be spared from danger, let us be spared	spare time, spare parts, spare room, spare change, spare tire
Antonyms	condemn, abandon	deplete, consume, use up
Common mistakes	Confusing 'let' with 'allow' in this structure., Using 'let him spared' instead of 'let him be spared'.	Confusing 'spare' with 'share'., Using 'spare' with uncountable nouns incorrectly., Misplacing it in a sentence, like saying 'spare me some time' instead of 'spare some time for me.'
Usage notes	This phrase is more common in formal discussions, especially in legal or religious contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversation.	Use 'spare' to describe something extra that can be used if needed. It's common in everyday conversation and writing, but avoid using it in overly formal contexts.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Let him be spared.

Let him be spared

They assembled him at OCS out of spare body parts of dead GIs.

Spare

Frequently asked questions: Let him be spared vs Spare

What's the difference between Let him be spared and Spare?

Let him be spared: Allow him to be saved from something bad. Spare: extra or unused.

Which is more formal: Let him be spared and Spare?

Let him be spared is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Let him be spared and Spare?

Spare is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Let him be spared: We prayed that he would be let him be spared from suffering. Spare: He's studying music in his **spare time**.

Can I use Let him be spared and Spare interchangeably?

Not always. Let him be spared and Spare are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.