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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Recent Examples of expanses
Large expanses of seats were unused during the third-bottom home side’s 2-1 defeat to Forest, who are in 17th place, on Tuesday.
—
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Trudging across six lanes of highway, and expanses of parking lot, to reach Soldier Field never had many fans, but there is zero romance in this new spot.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
The Eudoxus crater is visible just beneath and beyond the dark expanses of Mare Serenitatis (the Sea of Serenity) and Mare Tranquilitatis (the Sea of Tranquility), which served as the landing site of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
European-style squares, by contrast, are expanses people can walk not just to, but also through and around.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
The book’s occasional oases of self-examination are surrounded by dusty expanses of omission and unconcern.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
The extreme heat, extensive periods of drought, and seemingly endless dry, dusty expanses peppered with spiky plants form a landscape that is seductive and romantic.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Of course, there’s a whole population of outdoor super heroes who are drawn to those expanses, seemingly without the corresponding need for security.
—Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2025
Experts, however, head straight for the Back Bowls—seven distinct expanses of high-alpine terrain and (often waist-deep) powder that stretch on for miles.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Dec. 2025
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Trudging across six lanes of highway, and expanses of parking lot, to reach Soldier Field never had many fans, but there is zero romance in this new spot.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
The Eudoxus crater is visible just beneath and beyond the dark expanses of Mare Serenitatis (the Sea of Serenity) and Mare Tranquilitatis (the Sea of Tranquility), which served as the landing site of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
European-style squares, by contrast, are expanses people can walk not just to, but also through and around.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
The book’s occasional oases of self-examination are surrounded by dusty expanses of omission and unconcern.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
The extreme heat, extensive periods of drought, and seemingly endless dry, dusty expanses peppered with spiky plants form a landscape that is seductive and romantic.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Of course, there’s a whole population of outdoor super heroes who are drawn to those expanses, seemingly without the corresponding need for security.
—Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2025
Experts, however, head straight for the Back Bowls—seven distinct expanses of high-alpine terrain and (often waist-deep) powder that stretch on for miles.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expanses
Noun
-
As the United States established dominance on the world stage, the White House grounds changed dramatically, with major expansions to prevent overcrowding and afford the first family and their staff adequate office space on the maximum-security property.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Here’s a timeline of some of the city’s most significant announcements of corporate relocations and expansions in Plano.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His tendency to look for the shot before the pass is affecting his teammates, and overall the team’s offense is going through some horrible stretches.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
What Most Thrift Stores Can't Accept Large Appliances Refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, and other large appliances that are still in good working order are great to pass along, but thrift stores often don’t have space to keep these items for long stretches of time.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Capote set off for the high plains.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The coldest air arrives Friday night, with lows dropping into the low teens across the plains and urban corridor, and even colder readings expected in the foothills and mountain valleys.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The aircraft achieves ultra-short takeoff and landing distances and can rapidly switch between cargo transport and airdrop modes.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
-
As such, the study of GoHam and the discovery of tantalizing hints of planet formation could give astronomers a better understanding of how giant planets form at great distances from their parent stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Rick Wolf, a pioneer of fantasy sports who, more recently, has lobbied on behalf of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association, assured me that sportsbooks go to great lengths to promote responsible gaming.—
Vanity Fair,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The lidar system measures tree locations, heights, crown widths, and stem lengths, producing detailed three-dimensional models.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Some adventurous souls actually want to tempt gravity, using axes to climb frozen waterfalls or sheets of ice.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expanses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expanses. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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