as in expansion
a wide space or area
the great explorers who crossed the vast expanses of the seven seas in small ships
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expanse
The rocky expanse of rugged hills and arroyos is as real as the Mojave Desert and somewhat resembles it.
—
Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Surrounded by wide open expanses of the Santa Monica Mountains, this modern abode has a direct connection with its surroundings via the sliding doors and casement windows that swing open to beckon in fresh air and sunlight.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
The idea seemed natural to me — much of my younger days were spent developing a family art retreat in southern Colorado, a 115-acre expanse dotted with my dad’s sculptures and DIY cabin builds nestled throughout arroyos and piñon pines.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Just over a sharp ridge that the belly of the plane seemed to graze, the vast expanse of the Beardmore Glacier spread before us.
—Cree Lefavour, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expanse
Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Surrounded by wide open expanses of the Santa Monica Mountains, this modern abode has a direct connection with its surroundings via the sliding doors and casement windows that swing open to beckon in fresh air and sunlight.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
The idea seemed natural to me — much of my younger days were spent developing a family art retreat in southern Colorado, a 115-acre expanse dotted with my dad’s sculptures and DIY cabin builds nestled throughout arroyos and piñon pines.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Just over a sharp ridge that the belly of the plane seemed to graze, the vast expanse of the Beardmore Glacier spread before us.
—Cree Lefavour, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expanse
Noun
-
To seal the night, our clients observed the night sky using the historic 100-inch Hooker Telescope, a tool used by the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, including Edwin Hubble, who used it to measure the expansion of the Universe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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Before the preseason games even happen, there’s a lot to do with an expansion draft for Portland and Toronto as well as free agency for 80% of the league.—
Doug Feinberg,
Twin Cities,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In one of the most affecting stretches in the biography, Oppenheimer recounts how Rudy died prematurely of a heart attack less than a month before Blume’s wedding.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
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House District 98 has 65,693 voters and stretches from the resort area’s south end to the North Carolina border.—
Stacy Parker,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Orient Express Corinthian, set to become the world’s largest sailing cruise ship, measures 721 feet in length and has a 25,200-gross-ton displacement.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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Six-foot-9 freshman Adian Elamin reduced SDSU’s passing angles and shooting opportunities with his athleticism and length.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expanse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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