Tried to become spent (5)
I believe the answer is:
tired
'spent' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'tried to become' is the wordplay.
'to become' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tried' anagrammed gives 'TIRED'.
(Other definitions for tired that I've seen before include "Depleted of energy" , "Physically or mental weary" , "Physically or mentally weary" , "Weary, fatigued" , "knackered" .)