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

Inflected Forms

Participles

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.

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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.

See Examples For:

expand expands expanded expanding

Canada was first set to expand its assisted dying laws to people whose sole condition is mental illness in 2023, but it delayed doing so twice to allow for time to study its potential delivery.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

The researchers say dietary sugar may magnify the microbiome disruption caused by antibiotics because potentially harmful bacteria that survive treatment may be able to use those sugars to expand.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

But although it helps AKP expand its influence in Izmir, it does not mean the party has a majority on the city's metropolitan municipal council, which remains dominated by the opposition.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

The preliminary earnings come as LG continues to expand into fast-growing businesses in the AI era, such as data-center cooling systems and robotics, while maintaining growth in its home-appliance and other core businesses despite challenges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Yet all these gases have very basic properties in common: heat them up and they expand; cool them down and they contract.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

The climate pattern also contributes to rising sea levels, since water expands as it heats up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The news that Ellison plans to sell the property comes as the billionaire expands his touch on the Manalapan area, which is situated south of Palm Beach.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

"Investment that merely expands distribution networks or assembles products using Chinese parts could increase imports and deepen dependence. Approvals should therefore prioritise technology transfer, local value addition, domestic component production and exports from India."

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

"When it gets really warm, that water expands... which causes sea levels to rise just because the water is warm, so you get an additional additive increase in sea level," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

He retains hold of my arm, and as he talks his spine straightens imperceptibly, his chest expands, his voice assumes more and more the sprightliness and jocularity of youth.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

It comes after a parliamentary panel earlier this year recommended that medically assisted dying - known as Maid in Canada - should not be expanded.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Operations expanded to as many as 10 flights a day at one point, even after the Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

It reveals how the country’s 20th century manufacturing prowess expanded into the production of dreams.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Year: 2019 Compiled by: Slate Staff, myriad tech experts Of note: Later expanded into a book, edited by former Future Tense editor Torie Bosch.

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026

The moment he removed it from his skin, the bow expanded three feet.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

They noted that the labor market had strengthened a bit and that the U.S. economy was expanding at a solid pace.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

Streaming giant Spotify announced Wednesday it is expanding access to its audiobook service to more than 180 markets, up from 22 currently, as the format continues to gain popularity.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

FlyDubai has been one of the world’s fastest expanding airlines, nearly doubling its staff since the pandemic to become the go-to low-cost carrier for a travel-hungry region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

"The old model of retailers expanding to improve turnover has now disappeared because of the internet."

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The list for Richard’s party was ever expanding, and no sooner had they finished readying one room than another needed to be prepared for yet another guest.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

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