expanse
noun
ex·panse
ik-ˈspan(t)s 
1
2
: great extent of something spread out
an expanse of calm ocean
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
The single-level expanse of exhibition space has two entry points and countless options for covering its formidable length.
—
Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Surrounded by a vast dark expanse, huddled in sleeping bags with three of your friends in a space the size of a five-person tent.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Glass expanses and sliding walls dissolve boundaries, while Turner’s mix of tactile natural materials and warm neutrals echoes the setting without resorting to Caribbean cliché.
—Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2026
While the southern end of the park is known for its high concentration of petrified wood, the northern end has jaw-dropping views of the Painted Desert, the colorful expanse of hills, buttes, and mesas in Arizona’s high desert.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expanse
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Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Surrounded by a vast dark expanse, huddled in sleeping bags with three of your friends in a space the size of a five-person tent.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Glass expanses and sliding walls dissolve boundaries, while Turner’s mix of tactile natural materials and warm neutrals echoes the setting without resorting to Caribbean cliché.
—Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2026
While the southern end of the park is known for its high concentration of petrified wood, the northern end has jaw-dropping views of the Painted Desert, the colorful expanse of hills, buttes, and mesas in Arizona’s high desert.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expanse
Cite this Entry
“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expanse. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expanse
noun
ex·panse
ik-ˈspan(t)s
: a wide space, area, or stretch
the vast expanse of the ocean
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