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.
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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
The fetus’ head was pressed up against her dilated cervix, and a miscarriage was, according to her medical record, “inevitable.”
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
After she was released, she went to the hospital where doctors told her she had already dilated two centimeters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025
Pheoby dilated all over with eagerness, “Tea Cake gone?”
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
