expanse

ex·panse | \ ik-ˈspan(t)s

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Definition of expanse

2 : great extent of something spread out an expanse of calm ocean

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Examples of expanse in a Sentence

The explorer gazed across the vast Arctic expanse. the great explorers who crossed the vast expanses of the seven seas in small ships

Recent Examples on the Web Then, as now, the site is a rolling expanse of green fields. — Patrick Mulholland, National Review, "Easter Still Frames the Irish Response to Times of National Crisis," 13 Apr. 2020 Some people think moors are bleak because of their treeless expanses, low vegetation, and apparent lack of wildlife. — Rose George, The New York Review of Books, "Running Alone Together," 10 Apr. 2020 The main avenues were bleak expanses of concrete, lined with billboards. — Christine Smallwood, Harper's Magazine, "In Harm’s Way," 30 Mar. 2020 There is a great expanse of sky and there is nothing above us. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A bronze sculptor and a storybook writer bought a Port Washington condo. The decor is mesmerizing.," 5 Mar. 2020 The Sahel region is a huge expanse of western and north-central Africa just south of the Sahara Desert that extends from the Atlantic coast of Senegal across the continent to the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. — NBC News, "Graham tells Defense Secretary Esper he could 'make your life hell' in battle over Trump Africa policy," 18 Feb. 2020 Northern India, with its expanses of farmland and desert, is more accustomed to heat waves than dangerous cold fronts, both of which have been linked to climate change. — New York Times, "India Cold Wave Breaks Records, Shuts Schools and Makes Bad Air Worse," 1 Jan. 2020 There’s something thrilling about a bridge that not only crosses a huge expanse of water but also connects two nations. — Will Hawkes, Washington Post, "The 10 best slow trains through Europe," 30 Jan. 2020 Australia’s unprecedented wildfire season has charred huge expanses of brushland, rainforests and national parks – killing more than a billion wild animals by one estimate. — USA TODAY, "Animatronic groundhog, coalfield crayfish, Old Bay sauce: News from around our 50 states," 30 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expanse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near expanse

expanding pulley

expanding universe

Statistics for expanse

Last Updated

25 Apr 2020

Cite this Entry

“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expanse. Accessed 3 Jun. 2020.

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