expanse

noun

ex·panse | \ ik-ˈspan(t)s

How to pronounce expanse (audio)

\

Definition of expanse

1 : firmament

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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about expanse

Keep scrolling for more

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 Alicka Ampry-Samuel works out of a two-story office building overlooking an expanse of vacant land, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. — Saki Knafo, The New Yorker, "Bridging the Divide Between the Police and the Policed," 28 Apr. 2021 At 78˚ North, this remote, rugged and riveting region unfolds an enormous expanse of monumental glaciers, frozen tundra and jaw-dropping virgin terrain. — Laura Manske, Forbes, "G0 Wild: Discover The Best Post-Pandemic Trips Of A Lifetime," 26 Apr. 2021 In this color palette, small doses of turquoise, sunshine yellow, and raspberry punctuate an expanse of equally vibrant bubblegum pink. — Monika Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, "How to Choose the Right Colors for Your Home, According to an Interior Designer," 15 Apr. 2021 Fathers and their kids got out their baseball mitts and played catch on an open expanse of asphalt. — Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Burgers, brats and beer: Tailgating returns to American Family Field," 12 Apr. 2021 There’s an even wider expanse of grass on the right, certainly big enough for a flag-football game, and, beyond that, a row of trees that reminds you about how much land Disney owns and how much isn’t built up. — Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, "Disney: New walkway connects Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian," 5 Mar. 2021 The play takes place entirely at a café table, though for pandemic purposes the table has been extended to a six-foot diameter—a dark expanse, cups of tea floating like lily pads. — Helen Shaw, Vulture, "Irish Eyes, Unsmiling: Mark O’Rowe’s The Approach Is a Triple Showcase for Actors," 23 Jan. 2021 Months to years spent crossing a cold, airless expanse, sometimes with no final destination at all, is not work for squishy, social humans. — National Geographic, "Is the robot future now?," 19 Aug. 2020 My first farm was three hours north of San Francisco: a distance of great geographic expanse, but an even greater cultural chasm. — Mai Nguyen, CNN, "What 'Minari' is doing for Asian American farmers like me," 16 Apr. 2021

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about expanse

Dictionary Entries near expanse

expanding pulley

expanding universe

Statistics for expanse

Last Updated

6 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expanse. Accessed 6 May. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for expanse

expanse

noun

English Language Learners Definition of expanse

: a large and usually flat open space or area

See the full definition for expanse in the English Language Learners Dictionary

expanse

noun

ex·panse | \ ik-ˈspans

\

Kids Definition of expanse

: a wide area or stretch an expanse of desert

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

deep-six

Listen to the pronunciation of deep-six

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Star Wars Words Quiz

The bounty portion of bounty hunters (such as Boba Fett) comes from a Latin word meaning

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

TAKE THE QUIZ