Meanings
verbexpand (third-person singular simple present expands, present participle expanding, simple past and past participle expanded)
present singular third person expands · participle present expanding · participle past expanded · past expanded · first person past singular expanded · archaic present second person singular expandest · past second person singular expanded · archaic past second person singular expandedst · present singular third person expands · archaic present singular third person expandeth · past singular third person expanded · past plural expanded · past subjunctive expanded · participle present expanding · participle past expanded
- transitiveTo increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
A flower expands its leaves.
3 more examples
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.
1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLCThis has evidently been encouraging, for the current winter timetable - not even with the benefit of summer holiday traffic - shows that the two trains each way have been expanded to four.
1961 October 28, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Scottish Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 594When an ultrasonic beam is fired at the microcannons, the emulsion evaporates, expanding rapidly into gas. This creates enough force to push the nanobullets out at velocities reaching several metres per second.
2016 February 1, Tom Whipple, “Microcannon firing nanobullets: the future of targeted medicine”, in The TimesSynonyms: enlarge
- transitivealgebraTo rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
Use the binomial theorem to expand #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴.
- intransitivealgebraTo become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
The expression #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴ expands to x⁴#43;4x³#43;6x²#43;4x#43;1.
- transitivearithmeticTo multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value).
Expanding 4#47;7 by 3 gives 12#47;21.
- intransitiveTo change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
Many materials expand when heated.
1 more example
This compact umbrella expands to cover a large table.
- intransitiveTo increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
- intransitiveTo speak or write at length or in detail.
He expanded on his plans for the business.
1 more example
There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […]”
1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock - intransitiveTo feel generous or optimistic.
- transitivecomputingIn a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to show the subentries of (an entry).
Antonyms: collapse
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
verbTo increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
Similar
verbIn a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to show the subentries of (an entry).
Opposite
to express at length or in detail
Similar
elaborateexpand on
antonym(s) of “to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one”
Opposite
antonym(s) of “to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of”
Opposite
antonym(s) of
Opposite
More synonyms by meaning
verbadd details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
Opposite
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinexpandō“to spread out”
- Anglo-Normanespaundre
- Englishexpand
Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandō (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.
More words from Anglo-Norman, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic وَسَّعَ, تَوَسَّعَ
- وَسَّعَ (wassaʕa)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- تَوَسَّعَ (tawassaʕa)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- فَصَّلَ (faṣṣala)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
Bulgarian разширя́вам се, увеличавам се
- разширя́вам се (razširjávam se)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- увеличавам се (uveličavam se)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- разширявам се (razširjavam se)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- разтварям се (raztvarjam se)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- разширявам (razširjavam)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- разкривам скоби (razkrivam skobi)(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
- увеличавам се (uveličavam se)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- разраствам се (razrastvam se)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- засилвам се (zasilvam se)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- излагам подробно (izlagam podrobno)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- разяснявам се (razjasnjavam se)(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
Chinese Mandarin 擴展 /扩展, 擴張 /扩张
- 擴展 /扩展 (kuòzhǎn)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 擴張 /扩张 (kuòzhāng)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 擴大 /扩大 (kuòdà)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 擴充 /扩充 (kuòchōng)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 展開 /展开 (zhǎnkāi)(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
Danish ekspandere
- ekspandere(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
Dutch vergroten, uitbreiden
- vergroten(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- uitbreiden(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- openzetten(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- opentrekken(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- uitdijen(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- uitzetten(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- uitplooien(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- uitbreiden(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- vergroten(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- vermeerderen(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- ontwikkelen(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
- uitdijen(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
Esperanto pligrandigi, pligrandiĝi
- pligrandigi(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- pligrandiĝi(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
Finnish laajentaa, levittää
- laajentaa(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- levittää(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- laajentua(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- laajeta(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- laajentaa(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- kertoa auki(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
- laventaa(transitive, arithmetic) to multiply the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same number
- laajentua(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- laajeta(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- täsmentää(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- tarkentaa(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- selventää(transitive) to express at length or in detail
French agrandir, développer
- agrandir(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- développer(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
- élaborer(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
German expandieren, vergrößern
- expandieren(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- vergrößern(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- vergrößern(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
Greek επεκτείνω
- επεκτείνω (epekteíno)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
Hebrew הרחיב, מתח
- הרחיב (hirkhív)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- מתח (matákh)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- הגדיל (higdíl)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- הרחיב (hirkhív)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- פיתח (pitéakh)(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
- פירט (perét)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
Hungarian bővít, kibővít
- bővít(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- kibővít(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- szélesít(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- kiszélesít(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- kiterjeszt(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- tágít(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- kitágít(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- növel(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- megnövel(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- kitágul(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- tágul(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- szétterül(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
Irish leathnaigh, leathnaigh
- leathnaigh(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- leathnaigh(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- leathnaigh(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- leathnaigh(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
Italian estendere, espandere
- estendere(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- espandere(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- estendersi(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- espandersi(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- espandere(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- sviluppare(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
- sviluppare(intransitive, algebra) to become an equivalent sum of terms
- moltiplicare(transitive, arithmetic) to multiply the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same number
- espandersi(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- dettagliare(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- dilungare(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- dilungarsi(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
Japanese 広げる, 拡大する
- 広げる (hirogeru)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 拡大する (kakudai suru)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 広がる (hirogaru)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 拡大する (kakudai suru)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 広げる (hirogeru)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- 拡大する (kakudai suru)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- 広げる (hirogeru)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- 拡大する (kakudai suru)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- 展開する (tenkai suru)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- 敷衍する (fuen suru)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
Korean 펴다, 피다
- 펴다 (pyeoda)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 피다 (pida)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 펴이다 (pyeoida)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 피다 (pida)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- 펴다 (pyeoda)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- 피다 (pida)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- 펴이다 (pyeoida)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- 피다 (pida)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- 펴다 (pyeoda)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
Latin expandō, expando
- expandō(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- expando(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
Māori tīwhaki, tīwhera
- tīwhaki(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- tīwhera(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- whakamakoha(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- whakaroha(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- tautorotoro(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- whakaroha(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- whakaroha(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
Norwegian utvide, ekspandere
- utvide(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- ekspandere(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- vokse(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- bli større(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- utvide(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- ekspandere(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- vokse(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- ekspandere(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- utdype(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- greie ut(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- utdype(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
Polish zwiększać, zwiększyć
- zwiększać(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- zwiększyć(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
Romanian mări, expanda
- mări(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- expanda(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- crește(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- crește(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- mări(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
Russian растя́гивать, расширя́ть
- растя́гивать (rastjágivatʹ)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- расширя́ть (rasširjátʹ)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- растя́гиваться (rastjágivatʹsja)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- расширя́ться (rasširjátʹsja)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- увели́чивать (uvelíčivatʹ)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- увели́чиваться (uvelíčivatʹsja)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- раскрыва́ться (raskryvátʹsja)(intransitive) to feel generous or optimistic
- де́латься открове́ннее (délatʹsja otkrovénneje)(intransitive) to feel generous or optimistic
- станови́ться общи́тельнее (stanovítʹsja obščítelʹneje)(intransitive) to feel generous or optimistic
- излага́ть де́ло в подро́бностях (izlagátʹ délo v podróbnostjax)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- раскрыва́ть суть де́ла (raskryvátʹ sutʹ déla)(transitive) to express at length or in detail
Spanish ampliar, expandir
- ampliar(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- expandir(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- profundizar(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- explayar(transitive) to express at length or in detail
Swedish utbreda, utveckla
- utbreda(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- utveckla(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- öppna(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- utbreda sig(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- utbredas(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- utveckla sig(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- utvecklas(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- växa(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- öppna sig(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- öppnas(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- expandera(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- vidga(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
Tagalog palakihin, lumaki
- palakihin(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- lumaki(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- palakihin(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- lumaki(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- palawakin(transitive) to express at length or in detail
- lumawak(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
Thai ขยาย
- ขยาย (kàyǎai)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
Ukrainian розтяга́ти, розши́рювати
- розтяга́ти (roztjaháty)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- розши́рювати (rozšýrjuvaty)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- збі́льшувати (zbílʹšuvaty)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- розтяга́тися (roztjahátysja)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- розши́рюватися (rozšýrjuvatysja)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- збі́льшуватися (zbílʹšuvatysja)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- збі́льшувати (zbílʹšuvaty)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- збі́льшуватися (zbílʹšuvatysja)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
- розповіда́ти в дета́лях (rozpovidáty v detáljax)(intransitive) to speak or write at length or in detail
Vietnamese khai triển
- khai triển(transitive, algebra) to rewrite as an equivalent sum of terms
Yiddish אויסברייטערן, אויסברייטערן זיך
- אויסברייטערן (oysbreytern)(transitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- אויסברייטערן זיך (oysbreytern zikh)(intransitive) to change from a smaller form/size to a larger one
- אויסברייטערן (oysbreytern)(transitive) to increase the extent, number, volume or scope of
- אויסברייטערן זיך (oysbreytern zikh)(intransitive) to increase in extent, number, volume or scope
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with expand
andhandlandbrandbandunderstandgrandstanddemandplannedsandgranderandstrandbannedscannedcannedglandtannedwithstandblandsecondhandmannedbestand
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
expand. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/expand
MLA
“expand.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/expand. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “expand,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/expand.
Source: expand on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.