expands

present tense third-person singular of expand
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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

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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 expands Either way, what a great result that expands theatrical audiences. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2025 While Quark primarily operates in the polar regions, the company expands to subpolar destinations during the shoulder seasons, before the fleet repositions to the other side of the globe. Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025 The convoy expands with the addition of Angolan trackers from the Luchazi tribe, known for their extensive knowledge of the ecosystem, particularly around the Okavango River basin. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025 As the university expands its professional and graduate programs, the number of student-parents has also grown. Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 The question is whether that hardware expands or merely entertains. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025 That expands stability over even a broader region, Berardelli said, allowing fewer spots for a growing storm to grow. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2025 However, one person managing each and every business component isn’t sustainable long term as the business expands, the team grows and other larger priorities take precedence over the day-to-day tasks. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Now, even if the AL and NL were to stay, realignment is going to have to happen anyway once MLB expands to 32 teams. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expands
Verb
  • The condition develops before birth if a pregnant cat is exposed to the feline panleukopenia virus, leaving the kitten's cerebellum underdeveloped.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That develops when athletes reach senior level.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And the alloy wheels are an inch smaller, which increases the range to 288 miles (464 km).
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Every decision either increases your freedom or decreases it.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With its calculatedly severe form, the film both distills and extends melodrama to avant-garde extremes.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The vision extends beyond test prep.
    Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • If inflation rises, the Fed could increase interest rates in an attempt to slow the economy.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Coaching accelerates trust, sharpens skills, and keeps teams engaged even when separated by time zones and thousands of miles.
    Matthew C. Meade, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The missile’s low-G launch from the cannon avoids the need for hardened components, while a rocket motor accelerates it to low supersonic speeds.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The whisky opens with the scent of dark cherries, raisins, and Brazil-nut toffee, touched with marzipan and date caramel.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Now, a grown-up Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) faces new and familiar frights after her equally goth daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), opens a portal to the Netherworld and reawakens everyone's favorite pinstriped ghost.
    Emy LaCroix, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Each October, when the river swells with rainwater, workers pause, move their tools and wares away, and only return once the waters recede.
    Faye Bradley, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The difference between a story that swells into something bigger than the writer or collapses when the pen is no longer in their hand.
    Ken Polk, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Leaders must pair intelligence with intention, ensuring AI augments humanity, not replaces it.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The companies building them are laying the groundwork for a future that’s more efficient and more resilient — and, if developed thoughtfully, one that augments work without losing the critical role people play.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Expands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expands. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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