Synonyms

expand

American

[ik-spand] / ɪkˈspænd /

verb (used with object)

to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc..

Heat expands most metals. He hopes to expand his company.

Synonyms:

enlarge, swell, extend
to spread or stretch out; unfold.

A bird expands its wings.
to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop.

to expand a short story into a novel.
Mathematics.
1. to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors.
2. to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind.
  
  to expand a function in a power series.

verb (used without object)

to increase or grow in extent, bulk, scope, etc..

Most metals expand with heat. The mind expands with experience.
to spread out; unfold; develop.

The buds had not yet expanded.
to express something more fully or in greater detail (usually followed by on orupon ).

to expand on a statement.

expand British

/ ɪkˈspænd /

verb

to make or become greater in extent, volume, size, or scope; increase
to spread out or be spread out; unfold; stretch out
to enlarge or expatiate on (a story, topic, etc) in detail
(intr) to become increasingly relaxed, friendly, or talkative
maths to express (a function or expression) as the sum or product of terms

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does expand mean? To expand is to increase the extent or dimensions of something, as when a balloon expands when you blow air into it. Expand can describe the increasing size of something in height, width, length, scope, boundary, or any other measurable unit of size, as when you expand an app menu by clicking on a down arrow. To expand can also mean to stretch out or unfold, such as when a bird expands its wings when it gets ready to fly. Figuratively, to expand means to develop or to express more fully, as in Disney really expanded the Star Wars universe when it bought the rights to it. A common use of expand is in the phrase expand upon, meaning to give greater detail or context. When teachers tell you to expand upon your essay’s theme, for example, they want you to describe the theme in more detail or give the theme more context so that readers will understand it better. Example: Click and drag the corner of the square to expand it on the digital canvas.

Synonym Usage

Expand, dilate, distend, inflate imply becoming larger and filling more space. To expand is to spread out, usually in every direction: to expand one's chest. To dilate is especially to increase the width or circumference, and applies to space enclosed within confines or to hollow bodies: to dilate the pupils of the eyes. To distend is to stretch, often beyond the point of natural expansion: to distend an artery. To inflate is to blow out or swell a hollow body with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of expand

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English expanden, from Latin expandere “to spread out,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + pandere “to extend, stretch”

Explanation

The verb expand means to make something bigger or wider. It might refer to something concrete, as when you blow into a balloon and make it expand, or something more abstract, as when you study to expand your mind. Expand is a combination of the Latin words ex-, meaning "out," and pandere, "to spread." The idea of spreading out was always there, though the current idea of something actually becoming larger was first recorded in the mid-17th century. Expand is a versatile word that can refer to anything getting bigger, from a nation's growing influence in a neighboring country to a waistline that needs a larger belt.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing expand

Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Space Science (Astronomy) - Introductory

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Beowulf vocabulary

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

Exports helped Germany’s economy to expand 0.3% in January-March, its fastest rate in a year, although activity is expected to slow as the war drags on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

On the field, the decision to expand the tournament to 48 teams -- up from 32 in 2022 -- is likely to strip the group stage of any sense of jeopardy.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

But in his tireless push to expand his sprawling company, Allen has made several failed bids for high-profile assets.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

The company will expand its "ask" feature which can enable parents to control whom their children can speak with, requiring parental approval before they can converse with an unknown person.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Five days earlier I had been wondering where I could find enough money for a bike inner tube and now I was considering how I could expand my business to distribute work and disperse wealth.

From "Lawn Boy" by Gary Paulsen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023