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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
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

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 Walmart is expanding its network of charging stations for electric vehicles in the new year at nearly 80 stores throughout the country, including a half dozen in the Charlotte region. Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026 The card was viewed as a way to expand the company’s digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026 He’s since expanded upon the story of a doctor and her daughter fleeing from Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War and it’s led to a hard-hitting feature that couldn’t be more pertinent or more needed. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026 Google plans to expand to other languages and countries in the coming months. Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expand
Verb
  • Coming off two straight nine-win seasons, Dykes has seen enough confirmation on the field that TCU has plenty of talent already inside the building; most of it just needs to continue to develop.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Israeli attacks weakened Iran’s regional armed proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollahwhile US strikes dealt significant damage to the country’s nuclear program, which the government spent billions to develop.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The committee approved Lucas’s amendment and approved the recommendation to increase funding for the temporary jail.
    Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Hardware proven beyond Earth That validation already extends into space.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
  • These shifts extend beyond demographics to governance itself.
    Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • There were 107 homicides in Kansas City in 2012, and while that number dipped to as low as 82 homicides in 2014, the number of homicides continued to rise until a peak in 2023 at 182 homicides.
    Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Tensions rise when Nora, a stage actress, rejects Gustav's offer to star in his comeback film and is forced to confront her feelings toward her estranged father.
    Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Online courses are ubiquitous now in the remote era and, for the right candidate, can be the ideal way to supplement your income without having to sacrifice your full-time work schedule.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • On the other hand, exercise—especially via the leg muscles—can supplement mental activity in a meaningful way.
    Desireé Oostland, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The race to commercialize perovskite technology has accelerated rapidly in recent years.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The transfer portal, which opened Friday, allows programs to accelerate the rebuilding process and replace departing players — more than 20 in Florida’s case.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The burger chain originally opened in 1982 near the corner of C Street and Elvas Avenue in East Sacramento, according to previous Bee reporting.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The new Claribel Road bridge is scheduled to open by the end of 2026, with Phase 1 of the North County Corridor project expected to open to traffic in early 2028.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But the longstanding regime’s grasp on power now appears more tenuous than ever as the swelling opposition movement demands substantive change.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Tensions mount in Minneapolis Hundreds of people took to the streets of Minneapolis to protest within hours of Good’s death and demonstrations have continued to swell in the ensuing days.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Expand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expand. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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