expansion

1 something added (as by growth) <the museum's new wing is only the first in a series of expansions planned for the next decade> Synonyms accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, increase, gain, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptickRelated Words accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering; complement; accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn; jump, run-up, spikeNear Antonyms deduction, subtractionAntonyms abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

2 the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced <the expansion of remedial reading classes into a district-wide program using school volunteers for a variety of needs> Synonyms elaboration, evolution, development, growth, progress, progressionRelated Words advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement; incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening; blossoming, flourishing, flowering; addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation; emergence, evolvement, metamorphosisNear Antonyms backslide, lapse, relapse; decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakeningAntonyms regress, regression, retrogression, reversion

3 a wide space or area <we gazed in awe at the star-strewn expansion of nighttime sky above us> Synonyms breadth, distance, expanse, extent, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, wasteRelated Words domain, sphere, territory; compass, range, scope, sweep; gamut, scale, spectrum; depth, emptiness, void; extension, latitude, span; amplitude, immensity, magnitude