expand

verb

ik-ˈspand How to pronounce expand (audio)
Definition of expandnext
1
as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail an article on the First Ladies that the author later expanded into a book

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to increase
to make greater in size, amount, or number we had to expand the list of wedding guests several times in order to accommodate all the relatives Mother wouldn't dream of excluding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to extend
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area a spare leaf for those times when we have to expand the dining table to accommodate extra guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to accelerate
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number water expands when it becomes frozen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb expand differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of expand are amplify, dilate, distend, inflate, and swell. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When can amplify be used instead of expand?

The meanings of amplify and expand largely overlap; however, amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When might dilate be a better fit than expand?

Although the words dilate and expand have much in common, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

When is distend a more appropriate choice than expand?

The words distend and expand can be used in similar contexts, but distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When is it sensible to use inflate instead of expand?

In some situations, the words inflate and expand are roughly equivalent. However, inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

In what contexts can swell take the place of expand?

While the synonyms swell and expand are close in meaning, swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expand Abu Shabab’s social media presence, along with slick videos and fluent English commentary, has expanded. —Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 June 2025 The labels have also expanded their presence at genre film festivals worldwide, with Arrow Films maintaining booths at events like Fantasia in Montreal and supporting U.K. festivals including Celluloid Screams and Soho Horror. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 June 2025 Cheryl, who is a published author, and Oscar-winning director Ron expanded their family four times over with the addition of their children, daughters Bryce Dallas, Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle, as well as son Reed Cross. —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 7 June 2025 Eventually, Schlotzsky's expanded to over 700 locations, some of which were more recently rebranded to Schotzsky's Austin Eatery to reflect its Lone Star roots. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expand
  1. develop
  2. increase
  3. extend
  4. accelerate
  5. supplement
  6. augment
  7. open
  8. rise
Verb
  • Under the agreement, Level Forward will develop and create original programming in all genres – feature and documentary, long-form and short, films and series, and live entertainment – to be produced for the WaterBear platform.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 12 June 2025
  • Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
    — KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2025
Definition of develop
Verb
  • Mahan won his first term as mayor in 2022 with 51.3% of the vote after residents pushed to move the mayoral election to align with the presidential one to increase voter turnout.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025
  • Tacoma did its own analysis and found that people with a regular housing voucher, and no time limit, actually fared better at increasing their incomes and moving on.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 7 June 2025
Definition of increase
Verb
  • The campaign extends across multiple platforms, encouraging consumers to reconsider Walmart for their shopping needs.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time As a result, Benét and his team got to work with the Duets EP, teasing out the concept of having an all-women-features project, with their eyes set on an album that would extend the idea to even more songs.
    — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
Definition of extend
Verb
  • The state both increased funding for special education and accelerated by one year the commitment to fully funding the Education Cost Sharing formula, through which most state aid for local education flows.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025
  • Iran’s nuclear program accelerated after the breakdown of the 2015 nuclear agreement which halted international inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
    — Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • One such model is the external control arm (ECA), which leverages real-world data (RWD) to supplement or replace control groups, especially when enrolling patients in placebo arms is impractical or ethically complex.
    — Sujay Jadhav, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Although less snow fell this year, the lake reached its full capacity when the winter snowpack started to melt and supplemented its levels.
    — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Definition of supplement
Verb
  • Anthropic sees this as an example of how AI can augment human work, not replace it.
    — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • The new clubhouse/pro shop is set to be approximately 10,000 square feet and feature a year-round restaurant augmented by a dining room, sports bar, event space, terrace and multi-sport simulators.
    — Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
Definition of augment
Verb
  • The outdoor sale area opens on June 16, and the indoor sale begins on June 18.
    — Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2025
  • Comparable sales includes sales at all locations, physical and online, open greater than 52 weeks (including remodels and relocations) and excludes closed stores.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Definition of open
Verb
  • Keeler isn’t the first Notre Dame graduate to rise in the Navy ranks.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
  • Interestingly, this percentage rises to 64% when examining data from the last 3 years instead of 5.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of rise

Browse Nearby Words

exotics
expand
expanded
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Cite this Entry

“Expand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expand. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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