expanded
Americanadjective
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increased in area, bulk, or volume; enlarged.
an expanded version of a story.
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spread out; extended.
the expanded frontiers of the Roman Empire.
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Printing. Also (of type) wider in proportion to its height.
adjective
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Also: extended. (of printer's type) wider than usual for a particular height Compare condensed
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(of a plastic) having been foamed during manufacture by the introduction of a gas in order to make a light packaging material or heat insulator See also expanded metal
expanded polystyrene
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of expanded
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; expand + -ed 2
Explanation
Something that is expanded has been increased in size. For example, an expanded edition DVD has many more special features than the standard edition. You might prefer the expanded edition of the diary, since it contains all the extra little tidbits they were afraid to include in the original, smaller version. An expanded retail zone will mean more stores with more options. On the other hand it will likely also mean an expanded zone of chaos and cars.
Vocabulary lists containing expanded
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.
As the unique brand of baseball entertainment known as Banana Ball expanded into a six-team league, the tours have grown in size and scope but never actually ventured out of the United States.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Senedd expanded to 96 members for May's elections, which represented a "significant moment in the continued evolution of Welsh democracy," said the first minister.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Official data due on Monday is expected to show the world's second-biggest economy expanded 4.4 percent year-on-year in July-September, according to economists polled by AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
When I told a friend of our expanded ranks, he observed: “Well, Brenda, the rich get richer.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Two wings had been added to accommodate the yearly accretions of Marine children who came into town as Ravenel Air Base expanded.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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