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westward expansion is not in our dictionary (yet). Here's what it could mean:

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noun

  • The 19th-century movement of settlers, agriculture, and industry that led to the acquisition and settlement of territory across the United States, primarily in the lands west of the Mississippi River.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He set up a national system for reporting the weather, established international exchanges of research, and supported explorations of territories unveiled by the westward expansion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025

The United States in particular tied its burgeoning national identity and westward expansion to the settlement and acquisition of cattle-ranching lands.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2024

Thesaurus

Possible Synonyms

  • the settling of the West
  • American progress
  • American frontier settlement
  • the push west
  • continental expansion

Possible Antonyms

Words in our thesaurus

other words

  • urban concentration
  • eastern focus
  • reverse migration

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