1
as in develops
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 increases
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 extends
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 rises
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 expands
The speaker lineup also reflects just how far the festival expands of beyond traditional advertising.
—
Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Human spaceflight often expands beyond purely technical or scientific endeavors into ones of national pride and importance.
—Margaret Landis, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
As the polymer expands, the tiny pores dilate, allowing larger molecules to slip through.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
The gas in your stomach expands as the pressure drops, leaving you bloated.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
The stretchy fabric expands to move with you whether you’re seated or walking around the cabin.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Cabins aren’t fully pressurized, so the gas in your stomach expands at altitude and leaves you bloated.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Every successful launch expands the market, and autonomous spacecraft have already proven the model, exploring Mars, flying past Pluto, and leaving the solar system without a single human aboard.
—Omar Kardoudi
may 29, New Atlas, 29 May 2026
Its acquisition of the 219 Big Lots stores expands its footprint to over 600 stores across 18 states.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Human spaceflight often expands beyond purely technical or scientific endeavors into ones of national pride and importance.
—Margaret Landis, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
As the polymer expands, the tiny pores dilate, allowing larger molecules to slip through.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
The gas in your stomach expands as the pressure drops, leaving you bloated.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
The stretchy fabric expands to move with you whether you’re seated or walking around the cabin.
—Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Cabins aren’t fully pressurized, so the gas in your stomach expands at altitude and leaves you bloated.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Every successful launch expands the market, and autonomous spacecraft have already proven the model, exploring Mars, flying past Pluto, and leaving the solar system without a single human aboard.
—Omar Kardoudi
may 29, New Atlas, 29 May 2026
Its acquisition of the 219 Big Lots stores expands its footprint to over 600 stores across 18 states.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expands
Verb
-
The agency also highlighted strengthening southerly winds across the western Gulf as the disturbance develops.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Experts say resentment often develops when one daughter quietly takes responsibility for everything while other siblings remain uninvolved.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Researchers think that making art also increases neuroplasticity (the ability to form new connections).—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
17 June 2026
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That increases the risk that individuals’ personal data could be exposed, misused or commercialized without their consent.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
17 June 2026
Verb
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After years of abject failures, underachievement or agonising near-misses, Tuchel was hired to end England’s wait for a major international men’s trophy, which now extends to 60 years.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The logistics advantage The military value of better batteries extends well beyond longer flight times.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Historic elements of the former hotel remain today, including a grand piano and white stone, spiral staircase that rises up to the second-floor banquet rooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
The Love Goddess Venus rises in your 10th House of Career and Status, standing opposite cosmic detective Pluto in your 4th House of Home, so public goals confront private truths that need recognition.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Rapid volumetric heating accelerates dye diffusion and allows for deeper penetration of the prickly pear peel pigment molecules (betalain) into the wool fiber interior swollen by the heat.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
-
Alibaba’s move comes as competition in physical AI accelerates globally.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Fights are then slotted roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, the same staggered build these DAZN boxing cards tend to follow, so the headliners are still hours away when the broadcast opens.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The heavy metal doors creak as Faye, the regional health official, opens them.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
13 June 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday, elevated surf conditions were reported in Laguna Beach, which can get swells up to 9 feet.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Summer has already kicked off with beefy surf up and down the coastline, with moderate southern hemisphere swells bringing waves in the 3-to 5-foot range at many spots the past week.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
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,
17 June 2026
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The core group now augments itself with the bass clarinetist Madison Greenstone, trombonist Weston Olencki, and, for the first time in the band’s history, vocals.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expands. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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