expansive

adjective

ex·​pan·​sive ik-ˈspan(t)-siv How to pronounce expansive (audio)
1
: having a capacity or a tendency to expand
2
: causing or tending to cause expansion
3
a
: characterized by high spirits, generosity, or readiness to talk : open
grew expansive after dinner
b
: marked by or indicative of exaggerated euphoria and delusions of self-importance
an expansive patient
4
: marked by expansion
especially : having a great expanse or extent : sizable, extensive
an expansive interpretation of the law
5
: characterized by richness, abundance, or magnificence
expansive living
expansive taste
expansively adverb
expansiveness noun

Examples of expansive in a Sentence

He was unusually expansive at the press conference. She was in an expansive mood. The law was expansive in its scope. a more expansive treatment of the topic the hotel's expansive dining room The house has expansive views of the valley.
Recent Examples on the Web Gather all your board games and puzzles for a bonding session in the living room, then head out into the backyard for more expansive ideas like an obstacle course, water balloons, Slip 'N Slide marathon, or DIY human Twister. Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 The United Nations on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to promote the safe and trustworthy development of artificial intelligence, one of the most expansive efforts to date to reach international alignment on the technology. Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 The Noblesville taproom serves Bier's expansive blend of award-winning beers, which lean heavily on German and Belgian brewing traditions, plus wine, spirits, pizza, chicken wings and other food. The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2024 Another World’s Best Award winner, this expansive property also houses 2,000-plus rooms and suites (each one more than 700 square feet). Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024 Over the following three decades, immigration restrictions in the United States became more expansive, while in Europe several states, including Ottoman-Turkey, Romania, and Russia, expelled or violently propelled the emigration of ‘unwanted’ populations. TIME, 18 Mar. 2024 Washington and Beijing have both articulated expansive national security objectives, driven in part by their perception of the other as a threat, but each country puts forward its own ideas about what security is and how to achieve it. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Foreign Affairs, 15 Mar. 2024 The possibilities afforded by 3D weaving are expansive. Alden Wicker, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 Last Tuesday, progressives tried to sneak a new, more expansive bill through a different committee. James Erwin, National Review, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expansive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expansive was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near expansive

Cite this Entry

“Expansive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expansive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

expansive

adjective
ex·​pan·​sive ik-ˈspan(t)-siv How to pronounce expansive (audio)
1
: having a capacity or a tendency to expand
gases are expansive
2
: causing or tending to cause expansion
an expansive force
3
: being in a good or talkative mood
4
: having considerable extent : broad
expansively adverb
expansiveness noun

Medical Definition

expansive

adjective
ex·​pan·​sive ik-ˈspan(t)-siv How to pronounce expansive (audio)
: marked by or indicative of exaggerated euphoria and delusions of self-importance
a patient with expansive trends
expansiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on expansive

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