expanding universe

American

noun

Astronomy.

a concept or representation of the universe, based on the observed redshifts of distant galaxies, in which the galaxies are assumed to be receding from each other at a speed proportional to their separation as a result of the expansion of the universe.

Etymology

Origin of expanding universe

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

“In the quickly expanding universe of cases involving sanctions for the misuse of artificial intelligence, this case is a notorious outlier in both degree and volume,” Clarke wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

As a crosscheck, an initial Webb observation in 2023 confirmed that Hubble measurements of the expanding universe were accurate.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2024

He said the company's order portfolio was strong and fully booked well into 2025, but the company wanted to test this expanding universe.

From Reuters • Oct. 14, 2023

In 1934, Tolman published his book "Relativity, Thermodynamics, and Cosmology," inspired in part by the descriptions of an expanding universe model first proposed by Edwin Hubble in 1929.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2023

Physicists have theorized that we live in an infinite and infinitely expanding universe, and that everything in it will eventually repeat.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

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