expand
verb (used with object)
to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc..
were expanding
-
past progressiveof expand.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
From the moment the World Cup organizers announced that they were expanding the 2026 tournament from 32 to 48 teams, it looked like a spectacular own goal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
An AFP investigation on Tuesday found that scam centers in neighboring Myanmar were expanding rapidly just months after a crackdown there.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
By 2023, Williams’ responsibilities were expanding as rapidly as his anxiety.
From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2025
Google purchased Fitbit for $2.1bn in 2019 at a time when many tech businesses were expanding into other areas.
From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2024
If the universe were expanding faster in some directions than in others, the intensity of the radiation in those directions would be reduced by an additional red shift.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
