1
as in develops
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in increases
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 extends
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 rises
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
water expands when it becomes frozen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expands
When one soul speaks its truth, the frequency of truth expands through the collective.
—
Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to rise.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
In a twist underscoring shifting alliances in Tallahassee, the House plan mirrors and even expands guardrails Senate Democrats unsuccessfully sought to add to the Senate’s bill to renew the fund through 2027.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
And it has been shown to increase nitric oxide, which expands your blood vessels, enabling you to utilize more oxygen.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Carey’s book expands on Kelly’s claim that his criminal activity was a response to the violence the English committed against the Irish, both in Europe and, now, in their colony.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
The purpose is not to sneak in unrelated language that expands the power of leadership at the expense of our members.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Social and Cortex roll out set to deepen engagement, UK ISA expands int’l appeal, and prediction markets + Rothera JV improve UX & economics.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
The bill expands those protections.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to rise.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
In a twist underscoring shifting alliances in Tallahassee, the House plan mirrors and even expands guardrails Senate Democrats unsuccessfully sought to add to the Senate’s bill to renew the fund through 2027.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
And it has been shown to increase nitric oxide, which expands your blood vessels, enabling you to utilize more oxygen.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Carey’s book expands on Kelly’s claim that his criminal activity was a response to the violence the English committed against the Irish, both in Europe and, now, in their colony.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
The purpose is not to sneak in unrelated language that expands the power of leadership at the expense of our members.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Social and Cortex roll out set to deepen engagement, UK ISA expands int’l appeal, and prediction markets + Rothera JV improve UX & economics.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
The bill expands those protections.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expands
Verb
-
That’s a communication disorder that develops when kids don’t have consistent access to a language — whether ASL or English — as babies and toddlers.—
Claire Rafford,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Health officials advised anyone who develops symptoms to stay home and call a medical provider before seeking care to avoid exposing others.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Replacing your roof not only improves safety and performance, but also boosts curb appeal and increases your home’s value.—
TIMEPROOF USA Roofing Company,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Taking ownership removes friction and increases follow-through.—
Brian Page,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An exceptional culinary experience likewise extends to the beauty of the cutlery, crystal, and fine china set the meal is served with, ideally in a space likewise suited to the elegance of such a tablescape.—
Laurie Brookins,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Positioned as the brand’s first solvent-free shoe, the style extends Keen’s long-running Detox the Planet program into a fully modular build.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Try it again on the next block, and this time a suspicious-looking mushroom rises from within and chases you, a symbol for transformation that the designers hoped would be globally recognizable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Caterpillar, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, is still fundamentally a cyclical business that rises and falls with the global economy.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once average winter temperatures hit minus-8 degrees Celsius (17 Fahrenheit), snow loss accelerates rapidly even with modest increases in warming, the researchers found.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Built for flexible, decentralized power generation, the plants are designed to support renewable energy as the transition accelerates.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The show, a sort of elegy for Gen X, opens with a flash-forward to July 16, 1999, the final hours of Carolyn and John.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
When Tulah opens later this year, stays will cost up to $2,700 per person per night, inclusive of all treatments and meals.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Small craft should exercise caution near inlets due to long period swells, according to NWS Melbourne.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
-
No matter the chapter, no matter the group, in London everything swells together like a great Brazilian monochromatic gumbo.—
Theo Lloyd-Hughes,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This is the first of a new type of rideshare program flying to that orbit that augments SpaceX’s Transporter program that flies to SSO.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
His uniquely disarming sense of humor augments—and sometimes masks—the complexity of his taste and technical ability.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expands. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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