distend

verb

dis·​tend di-ˈstend 

distended; distending; distends

transitive verb

1

: to enlarge, expand, or stretch out (as from internal pressure) : swell

a distended abdomen

2

: extend

… the main outlines of the land yet lay clearly distended before them.

—Norman Douglas

intransitive verb

: to become enlarged, expanded, or stretched out

causing the stomach to distend

Did you know?

The history of the word distend stretches back to the Latin verb tendere—a root whose kin have really expanded the English language. To find evidence of this expansion, look to words that include "tend" or "tent"; many have tendere, which means "to stretch, extend, or spread," in their family tree. Perhaps the simplest example is tent, which names a shelter made from a piece of material stretched over a frame. You'll also find the influence of tendere in extend, tendon, contend, portend, and tendency.

Choose the Right Synonym for distend

expand, amplify, swell, distend, inflate, dilate 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

amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

Examples of distend in a Sentence

an abdomen distended by disease

Recent Examples on the Web

His abdomen became very hard and distended. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026

My stomach wasn't distended anymore. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026

His abdomen became distended, and his behavior changed — enough to concern caregivers. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026

Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin distendere, from dis- + tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for distend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

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Kids Definition

distend

verb

dis·​tend dis-ˈtend 

: to stretch or bulge out in all directions : swell

Medical Definition

distend

transitive verb

dis·​tend dis-ˈtend 

: to enlarge or stretch out (as from internal pressure)

distended veins

intransitive verb

: to become expanded