expanded 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of expandednext
as in blown up

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expanded

2 of 2

verb

past tense of expand
1
as in developed
to express more fully and in greater detail an article on the First Ladies that the author later expanded into a book

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in increased
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

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3
as in extended
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

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4
as in accelerated
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number water expands when it becomes frozen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 expanded
Verb
Backed by foreign suppliers, both the SAF and RSF have expanded their drone fleets, from modified commercial drones to advanced military systems. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 The pilot started in a smaller downtown area the following year before it was expanded it earlier this year to span an area bounded by Irving Park Road to the north, 26th Street to the south and Ashland Avenue to the west. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 Just as important, that appointment contributed to a Court that has expanded the formal powers and protections of the presidency. — Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026 There wouldn’t be a need for replay three batters later when Adames hit his second home run in the last two games, an opposite-field solo shot that expanded the Giants’ lead to 3-0. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 July 2026 Companies that made the largest AI investment expanded entry-level job hiring by 12%. — Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 At David’s Tent, a 24-hour prayer ministry that was expanded for the fair, a woman in the baptism pool embraced another with tears in her eyes. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The tournament expanded to 48 teams this year, and 40 have at least one player on the 26-man roster born outside the country. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 For more than half a century, the federal government has expanded its role in housing. — Andy Harris, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expanded
  1. distended
  2. developed
  3. increased
  4. extended
  5. accelerated
  6. swollen
  7. augmented
  8. opened
Adjective
  • Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
  • The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.
    — Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
Definition of distended
Verb
  • Ukraine’s military and civil society have become the experts among Western allies, while Russia and Iran have developed their own capabilities.
    — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The organization had developed language almost twenty years earlier opposing the academic boycott of Israel, making PEN America the only PEN chapter to have a policy opposing a vital form of political expression.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of developed
Verb
  • Bike lane tickets increased to $250 after the 2022 death of 3-year-old Lily Grace Shambrook, who was killed in a traffic crash while riding on the back of her mother’s bike in Uptown.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • Researchers could not attribute increased or decreased beach erosion to higher global average temperatures.
    — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • Ahead of the trophy celebrations, the Spanish extended an olive branch, providing a guard of honour to their opponents.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The 14-day restraining order could be extended to as long as 28 days.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 20 July 2026
Definition of extended
Verb
  • Skid marks showing that Medina slammed on his brakes and rapidly accelerated backward were also spotted.
    — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 19 July 2026
  • This sparked the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution and accelerated civilization’s progress on a new, global scale.
    — Adam Farren, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of accelerated
Adjective
  • Afterward, her face was so swollen that her daughter, Ana Corina, could barely recognize her.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Man kayaks Texas river during flash flood swelling The video drew attention online as flooding continued across parts of Texas, with officials warning residents to stay away from swollen rivers and creeks.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of swollen
Verb
  • Quicksand’s trademark edge and groove are augmented by a sonic expansion that is well worth falling into.
    — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
  • Washington’s dress was further augmented with more gold elements, including her Jimmy Choo metallic gold pumps.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
Definition of augmented
Verb
  • Project Hail Mary, which was filmed for IMAX, opened with $28 million in global IMAX box office.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Meadow Plaza Shopping Center, which first opened in 1959, has long served as a neighborhood go-to spot for daily necessities.
    — Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of opened

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expanded
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Cite this Entry

“Expanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expanded. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of expanded for Spanish Speakers

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