Thesaurus

expand

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of expand

1 to express more fully and in greater detail

an article on the First Ladies that the author later expanded into a book

Synonyms of expand

amplify, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), flesh (out)

Words Related to expand

add (to), complement, supplement

discourse, expatiate, ramble, run on

Near Antonyms of expand

compress, contract

outline, summarize, sum up

Antonyms of expand

abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten

2 to make greater in size, amount, or number

we had to expand the list of wedding guests several times in order to accommodate all the relatives Mother wouldn't dream of excluding

Synonyms of expand

accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up

Words Related to expand

boom, jump, skyrocket, spike

bump (up), ratchet (up) also rachet (up)

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate

draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch

develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify

complement, supplement

beef (up), reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

accumulate, amass, collect

follow up, parlay

Near Antonyms of expand

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten

compress, condense, constrict, contract

cut back, retrench

Antonyms of expand

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

3 to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area

a spare leaf for those times when we have to expand the dining table to accommodate extra guests

Synonyms of expand

extend, fan (out), flare (out), open, outspread, outstretch, spread (out), stretch (out), unfold, unfurl

Words Related to expand

Near Antonyms of expand

compact, compress, condense, reduce

Antonyms of expand

close, contract, fold

4 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

water expands when it becomes frozen

Synonyms of expand

accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Words Related to expand

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge

heighten, intensify, redouble

blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up)

crescendo, crest, peak

Antonyms of expand

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Synonym Discussion of expand

expand, amplify, swell, distend, inflate, dilate mean to increase in size or volume. expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

- a business that expands every year

amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

- amplify the statement with details

swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

- the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

- a distended abdomen

inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

- an inflated ego

dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

- dilated pupils

Learn More about expand

See words that rhyme with expand Dictionary: Definition of expand Spanish Central: Translation of expand Nglish: Translation of expand for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of expand for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up expand? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

flounce

to move with exaggerated bouncy motions