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Synonyms

extensive

American  
[ik-sten-siv] / ɪkˈstɛn sɪv /

adjective

  1. of great extent; wide, broad.

    an extensive area.

    Synonyms:
    vast, ample, spacious, large, extended
    Antonyms:
    confined, narrow, narrow, limited
  2. covering or extending over a great area.

    extensive travels.

  3. far-reaching; comprehensive; thorough.

    extensive knowledge.

    Antonyms:
    parochial, confined, narrow, narrow, limited
  4. lengthy.

    an extensive journey.

  5. great in amount, number, or degree.

    an extensive fortune; extensive political influence.

  6. of or having extension.

    Space is extensive, time durational.

  7. noting or pertaining to a system of agriculture involving the use or cultivation of large areas of land with a minimum of labor and expense (intensive ).


extensive British  
/ ɪkˈstɛnsɪv /

adjective

  1. having a large extent, area, scope, degree, etc; vast

    extensive deserts

    an extensive inheritance

  2. widespread

    extensive coverage in the press

  3. agriculture involving or farmed with minimum expenditure of capital or labour, esp depending on a large area of land Compare intensive

  4. physics of or relating to a property, measurement, etc, of a macroscopic system that is proportional to the size of the system Compare intensive

    heat is an extensive property

  5. logic

    1. of or relating to logical extension

    2. (of a definition) in terms of the objects to which the term applies rather than its meaning

"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

Other Word Forms

  • extensively adverb
  • extensiveness noun
  • extensivity noun
  • nonextensive adjective
  • nonextensiveness noun
  • preextensive adjective

Etymology

Origin of extensive

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin extēnsīvus, equivalent to Latin extēns(us) (past participle of extendere “to stretch out”) + -īvus adjective suffix; extend, -ive

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.

This is given the Chinese energy major’s extensive pipeline assets and diversified supply sources, says the director.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last year, Canadian rapper Drake headlined all three days of Wireless festival, with each night focused on a different era of his extensive back catalogue.

From BBC

Qatar said Iranian strikes on its Ras Laffan LNG plant earlier in March caused extensive damage that cut its annual helium exports by 14% and could take up to five years to repair.

From The Wall Street Journal

Satellite images show enormous plumes of smoke rising from burning oil facilities in Primorsk on 24 March, as well as fires at Ust-Luga and extensive damage to Kirishi on 27 March.

From BBC

The Fed draws on dozens of them, along with extensive conversations with businesses, banks, and regional reserve banks across all 50 states.

From Barron's