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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to increase
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in to rise
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
water expands when it becomes frozen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expand
Ward has played with Jeff Malott and Samuel Helenius, whose roles expanded under similar circumstances late last season.
—
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
As the primary deficit grows, the U.S. must borrow the expanding difference, and that’s been the story.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
The 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement allowed the U.S. to operate American military bases in the island and Danish leaders have expressed willingness to work with Washington to expand the American and NATO presence there.
—Anniek Bao,dan Murphy, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The foundation also has sponsors and partners who share a commitment to expanding access and opportunities for young athletes.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expand
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
As the primary deficit grows, the U.S. must borrow the expanding difference, and that’s been the story.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
The 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement allowed the U.S. to operate American military bases in the island and Danish leaders have expressed willingness to work with Washington to expand the American and NATO presence there.
—Anniek Bao,dan Murphy, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The foundation also has sponsors and partners who share a commitment to expanding access and opportunities for young athletes.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expand
Verb
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The model successfully reproduced multiple cycles seen during the satellite era, including the gradual shift of sunspots from higher latitudes toward the solar equator—a key indicator of how a cycle develops.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
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Specifically, kids this age are developing key emotional regulation skills, such as tolerating disappointment, embarrassment, as well as frustration and anger.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Research shows more adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, with incidence increasing over the last three decades.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
31 Jan. 2026
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When applied to the scalp, minoxidil increases blood flow and stimulates your hair follicles to regrow hair.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bill extends current DHS funding levels for two weeks to allow talks over new accountability requirements for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other enforcement agencies.—
Eric Lau,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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Her life of service extended beyond medicine.—
Najahe Sherman,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That leads to high temperatures, which create a glowing protostar due to the rapid (kinetic) motion of the internal gas particles, and eventually, after a few tens of millions of years, the core temperatures rise high enough (above 4 million K or so) that nuclear fusion of hydrogen begins.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
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The information will be incorporated into the NEMO ocean model, which forms part of the UK Earth System Model, improving predictions as polar ice loss accelerates with rising global temperatures.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By recovering rare earths, lithium, cobalt and nickel from end-of-life electronics, companies can supplement primary mining with a more stable, circular source of materials.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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According to Oppermann, the idea is to ultimately supplement, not replace, live music concerts.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By combining a strong regulatory framework with a dense airport ecosystem, the authority aims to accelerate the testing and deployment of advanced aviation technologies.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
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The Dark Sky Lounge, an add-on, is a 30-minute sound and vibration-based therapy that is meant to accelerate muscle recovery and bring you into a deep state of relaxation—a perfect pre-treatment experience.—
David Duran,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mark your calendar On Thursday, Malia scored another exclusive, reporting on LACMA’s announcement that the David Geffen Galleries, the pinnacle of a two-decade campus transformation, will officially open April 19.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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The hunt was opened to public, DIY hunting in 2020.—
Kris Millgate,
Outdoor Life,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Other heart failure signs can include swelling, coughing, confusion, nausea and lack of appetite, according to the American Heart Association.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
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This keeps the plastic wrap from swelling or even rupturing.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expand. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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