dilated

1 of 2

adjective

di·​lat·​ed ˈdī-ˌlā-təd 

dī-ˈlā-

1

: marked by expansion or widening : subject to dilation

Some insist that the need to learn is likely to be at the core of our dilated childhood.

—Natalie Angier

specifically : expanded, enlarged, or widened normally or abnormally in all dimensions

dilated pupils

a dilated artery/cervix

Abdominal roentgenograms taken when the patient was upright showed a massively dilated stomach.

—Yogesh K. Gupta

2

: expanded laterally

especially : being flat and widened

dilated leaves

The flower corolla consists of only the upper dilated petal called the standard, or banner.

—Sylvan T. Runkel and Dean M. Roose

3

: caused by dilatation (see dilatation sense 1a)

dilated cardiomyopathy

dilated

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of dilate

Examples of dilated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Being in a state of desire produces physical reactions that are difficult to manufacture — sweat, blood rushing, dilated pupils — while offering up the human impulses behind the work, like what excites a designer and what they’re drawn to. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

There she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a progressive heart muscle disease. — Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

CT scans showed a full stomach, suggesting the boy had feasted before the sacrificial ceremony, as well as a dilated esophagus consistent with vomiting. — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

Mutations in genes encoding cardiac myosin, for instance, can lead to cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic and dilated forms, which affect the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dilated

• abated
• ablated
• awaited
• belated
• berated
• castrated
• chelated
• citrated
• collated
• conflated
• created
• curated

Medical Definition

dilated

adjective

di·​lat·​ed dī-ˈlā-təd 

ˈdī-ˌ

1

: expanded, enlarged, or widened normally or abnormally in all dimensions

dilated pupils

a dilated artery/cervix

2

: caused by dilation

dilated cardiomyopathy