VocabDictionary

spare room

/spɛər ruːm/beginner Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

An extra bedroom in a house or apartment kept available for guests to sleep in.

Example Sentences:
  • We need to clean out the spare room before your parents arrive for the weekend.
  • When my brother moved back home, he temporarily set up his office in the spare room.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “spare room”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

The term combines the adjective 'spare' (from Middle English 'sparren', meaning to keep safe or save, later denoting something extra or kept in reserve) and 'room' (from Old English 'rūm', meaning space or clearing). By the 19th century, as larger domestic architecture became common among the middle class, having an extra bedroom specifically reserved for visiting guests became standard, giving rise to the fixed phrase 'spare room'.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of it as a 'spare' (extra) tire for your house—kept hidden away until unexpected visitors show up.

Frequently Asked Questions About “spare room

1. What is the meaning of “spare room” in English?

In English, spare room (noun) is defined as: “An extra bedroom in a house or apartment kept available for guests to sleep in.”.

2. How do you use “spare room” in a sentence?

We need to clean out the spare room before your parents arrive for the weekend.

3. What are English synonyms of “spare room”?

Common synonyms include:guest room,extra room,visitors' room

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “spare room”?

The term combines the adjective 'spare' (from Middle English 'sparren', meaning to keep safe or save, later denoting something extra or kept in reserve) and 'room' (from Old English 'rūm', meaning space or clearing). By the 19th century, as larger domestic architecture became common among the middle class, having an extra bedroom specifically reserved for visiting guests became standard, giving rise to the fixed phrase 'spare room'.