1
as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail an article on the First Ladies that the author later expanded into a book

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to extend
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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb expand differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of expand are amplify, dilate, distend, inflate, and swell. While all these words 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

When can amplify be used instead of expand?

The meanings of amplify and expand largely overlap; however, amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When might dilate be a better fit than expand?

Although the words dilate and expand have much in common, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

When is distend a more appropriate choice than expand?

The words distend and expand can be used in similar contexts, but distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When is it sensible to use inflate instead of expand?

In some situations, the words inflate and expand are roughly equivalent. However, inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

In what contexts can swell take the place of expand?

While the synonyms swell and expand are close in meaning, swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of expand However, as has been the case with other annual shopping events, retailers expanded the promotional period to start May 13, a week earlier than in 2024, before ending June 18. Bernice Ooi, CNBC, 20 June 2025 Stablecoins are often treated as satellites of U.S. monetary policy—dollar proxies that expand liquidity and shore up Treasury demand. Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025 Trump’s memo will go into the history books as a moment when presidential power expanded to put under his control a military force aimed at U.S. civilians. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025 This season, the hotel has also expanded with the renovation of a neighboring building, unveiling 25 new rooms each designed around an outdoor patio with sea views. Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expand
Verb
  • The organization strives to foster a love of learning among children, develop bonding between children and their parents, build family connectivity by hosting events, and generally have a positive impact on helping families move into self-sufficiency.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • None of the potential draftees grew 4 inches or developed a different jump shot in the last month.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The gap between the top 75th percentile and the bottom 25th percentile performers increased by 1.5 times in Q1 2025 compared to a year earlier, with market leaders continuing to charge ahead while the bottom 20% to 30% of the sector continued to report a reduction in growth.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 June 2025
  • Ratcliffe has since increased his stake to nearly 30 per cent after spending a further $300m on new shares.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The downgrade to a notch above junk was based on loans extended to countries that have defaulted on their obligations.
    Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
  • Activate Multiple Channels For Maximum Impact True market leadership extends beyond content creation to thoughtful activation across multiple channels.
    Yogesh Shah, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Putting oneself in those situations that challenge conversational comfort zones and embracing discomfort, tension and unresolved conflicts accelerates growth significantly.
    Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
  • Throughout the 1960s, New York City’s financial sector boomed, yet simultaneously, poverty rates soared, deindustrialization accelerated, and housing costs skyrocketed.
    Daniel Wortel-London, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • The group of rats that was fed a diet supplemented with chitosan expelled more MPs that any of the other groups.
    Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Mütter’s bequest was eventually supplemented by donations from other physicians and scientists.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • This is the first of a new type of rideshare program flying to that orbit that augments SpaceX’s Transporter program that flies to SSO.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
  • Next, executives will pull draft decks, key performance indicators (KPIs) and reports from internal systems and augment them with AI summarization of complex documents into executive digests.
    Paroon Chadha, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The offshore yuan was little changed on the news and China’s equity futures were yet to open.
    Danny Bakst, Fortune, 27 June 2025
  • Large sliding rear side doors can be configured to open at the push of a key fob button and make buckling kids into their car seats easier, especially in crowded parking lots.
    Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025
  • Even more depressing is the scene at the end of President Andrews' address, when both sides of the aisle and all of the spectators rise in unanimous, unrestrained applause.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expand. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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