as in expansions
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 expanses
The double-height living room has a striking brick and mirror-paneled fireplace and large expanses of glass.
—
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
Vast expanses of aluminum panels and budget glass, slabs that look like they were drawn with a hacksaw, façades checkered with air conditioners, stretches of dead street frontage—the whole neighborhood looks like a first draft.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
On the northern shore, Sarakiniko serves as a particular highlight thanks to its dramatic appearance, with vast expanses of bone-white rock stretching across its shoreline.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
During this epoch, expanses of coastal plains revealed themselves as sea levels dropped by around 330 feet.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
The team calculates that, based on its distance from the star, TRAPPIST-1e might also be a relatively cool world, conceivably with liquid-water oceans or frozen expanses of ice on its surface.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2025
Backcountry exploration When people seek a break from the pace of modern life and the demands of being digitally connected, national parks contain expanses of backcountry, where signs of civilization are sparse, and where profound natural beauty, adventure and solitude are still available.
—Jeffrey C. Hallo, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Much of the rest of the hike was dry and traversed gentle gravel bars or smooth limestone expanses, skirting the edges of grassy bluffs and rocky cliffs.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
As a bit of scene-setting, Kim’s Video, for New Yorkers of a certain vintage, was once the place to explore the vast, bonkers expanses of the cinematic universe.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
Vast expanses of aluminum panels and budget glass, slabs that look like they were drawn with a hacksaw, façades checkered with air conditioners, stretches of dead street frontage—the whole neighborhood looks like a first draft.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
On the northern shore, Sarakiniko serves as a particular highlight thanks to its dramatic appearance, with vast expanses of bone-white rock stretching across its shoreline.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
During this epoch, expanses of coastal plains revealed themselves as sea levels dropped by around 330 feet.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
The team calculates that, based on its distance from the star, TRAPPIST-1e might also be a relatively cool world, conceivably with liquid-water oceans or frozen expanses of ice on its surface.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2025
Backcountry exploration When people seek a break from the pace of modern life and the demands of being digitally connected, national parks contain expanses of backcountry, where signs of civilization are sparse, and where profound natural beauty, adventure and solitude are still available.
—Jeffrey C. Hallo, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Much of the rest of the hike was dry and traversed gentle gravel bars or smooth limestone expanses, skirting the edges of grassy bluffs and rocky cliffs.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
As a bit of scene-setting, Kim’s Video, for New Yorkers of a certain vintage, was once the place to explore the vast, bonkers expanses of the cinematic universe.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expanses
Noun
-
Garcia-Roves maintains that no expansions have taken place.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The White House has pushed back on the criticism, sending out a press release Tuesday that noted that there was a long legacy of presidential alterations, renovations and expansions of the White House complex.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His touch and feel for the game have often betrayed him, however, preventing him from staying on the court for prolonged stretches.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond measuring drywall, Togal’s roadmap stretches into precise customization.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These mammals are found across North America, residing in every kind of habitat from hardwood forests to coastal plains to swamps.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Shahjahanpur district, where Pari was found, lies in the fertile, populous plains of north India.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The new simulations could now resolve features that spanned distances six times Earth’s 8,000-mile (or 128,000-kilometer) diameter down to tens of thousands of miles – nearly 100 times better than previous simulations.—
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti,
The Conversation,
13 Oct. 2025
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Traveling alone, even short distances, builds confidence and reminds you that your own company is enough to make an experience memorable.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Courson had gone to great lengths to keep crowds away.—
David Kushner,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Available in two different washes, regular, petite, and tall lengths, and sizing that runs from XS to 4X, this dress is practically made for everyone.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To reduce wear on your bed sheets, consider using hot water every few washes if possible.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
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The sheets are a private label for Belmond, made in Italy with 100 percent cotton.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expanses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expanses. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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