expansively

American

[ik-span-siv-lee] / ɪkˈspæn sɪv li /

adverb

in a wide-ranging or comprehensive manner.

Both directly local and expansively global actions are needed to confront this crisis.
“Broadband” needs to be defined as expansively as possible—connection speeds that are sufficient for home users are still inadequate for libraries.
in an effusive, unrestrained, or open manner.

She spoke expansively, and at great length, about her plans for the future.
across a wide physical or geographical area.

The band toured expansively through Finland, Sweden, and Denmark.
Areas of color are applied expansively, restricted only by the physical edges of the canvas.

Other Word Forms

nonexpansively adverb
overexpansively adverb
unexpansively adverb

Etymology

Origin of expansively

expansive ( def. ) + -ly

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.

“COVID required all companies to think much more expansively about talent — how you get it, how you keep it,” said Kelliher.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Americans, it seems, have lost the ability to think creatively and expansively about the constitution, and our ability to amend it.

From Slate • Sep. 6, 2025

Shoup’s central argument, published most expansively in his 700-page seminal work “The High Cost of Free Parking,” was that everything that most people think about parking was wrong.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

One of the clear contrasts in the style of play from former coach Simon Middleton is an effort to play expansively, with the aim to get England’s lethal back three on the ball more.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2024

"You'd better put it away," she said expansively.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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