dilate
verb (used with object)
to make wider or larger; cause to expand.
dilated
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past participleof dilate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof dilate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
dilateverb (used with object)to make wider or larger; cause to expand.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And if the aorta is dilated a certain amount, patients often undergo an elective surgery to fix it.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Rhys Llewellyn, 40, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy as a baby after struggling with breathing and putting on weight.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
In a dark room, a doctor pointed to an hourglass shape glowing on the ultrasound screen: There was her amniotic sac, funneling into her dilated cervix, and there was their tiny daughter’s foot, dipping out.
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
About 35 minutes in, Lamphere’s vitals started spiking; her heart rate quickened, she grew hot, her pupils dilated, she began grinding her teeth.
From Slate ● Jan. 30, 2026
But her eyes are dilated with fear, and when I speak, she doesn’t respond except to say with ever-increasing urgency, “Tick, tock.”
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
