expanse

noun

ex·​panse ik-ˈspan(t)s How to pronounce expanse (audio)
Synonyms of expansenext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All have king beds and floor-to-ceiling windows that open either toward the skyline or the green expanse of Chapultepec. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026 Up close, the vast expanse of the human skin resembles an unknown landscape, maybe similar to the lunar terrain, with craters and elevations in the form of minuscule blemishes, hairs, and cutaneous eruptions. Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 15 May 2026 By traversing sonic ground across its 10 tracks that transports listeners from the open expanses of Montana to the Mississippi Hill Country, Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen effectively weave a tapestry that knits together a throughline between foundational Americana genres. Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 One of the least populated places east of the Mississippi River, the Wilds sprawl across a vast expanse of the rugged Allegheny Plateau. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for expanse

Word History

Etymology

New Latin expansum, from Latin, neuter of expansus, past participle of expandere

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expanse was in 1667

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expanse. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

expanse

noun
ex·​panse ik-ˈspan(t)s How to pronounce expanse (audio)
: a wide space, area, or stretch
the vast expanse of the ocean

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