expand

[ ik-spand ]

verb (used with object)

1. to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc.:

   Heat expands most metals. He hopes to expand his company.

   Synonyms: enlarge, swell, extend

2. to spread or stretch out; unfold:

   A bird expands its wings.

3. to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop:

   to expand a short story into a novel.

4. Mathematics.
   1. to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors. Compare factor ( def 10 ).
   2. to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind:

      to expand a function in a power series.

verb (used without object)

1. to increase or grow in extent, bulk, scope, etc.:

   Most metals expand with heat. The mind expands with experience.

2. to spread out; unfold; develop:

   The buds had not yet expanded.

3. to express something more fully or in greater detail (usually followed by on or upon ):

   to expand on a statement.

expand

/ ɪkˈspænd /

verb

1. to make or become greater in extent, volume, size, or scope; increase
2. to spread out or be spread out; unfold; stretch out
3. introften foll byon to enlarge or expatiate on (a story, topic, etc) in detail
4. intr to become increasingly relaxed, friendly, or talkative
5. maths to express (a function or expression) as the sum or product of terms

Derived Forms

• exˈpandable, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·panda·ble ex·pandi·ble adjective
• ex·panda·bili·ty ex·pandi·bili·ty noun
• nonex·panding adjective
• over·ex·pand verb
• preex·pand verb (used with object)
• reex·pand verb
• self-ex·panding adjective
• super·ex·pand verb
• unex·panda·ble adjective
• unex·panding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expand¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English expanden, from Latin expandere “to spread out,” equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + pandere “to extend, stretch”

Word History and Origins

Origin of expand¹

C15: from Latin expandere to spread out, from pandere to spread, extend

Synonym Study

Expand, dilate, distend, inflate imply becoming larger and filling more space. To expand is to spread out, usually in every direction: to expand one's chest. To dilate is especially to increase the width or circumference, and applies to space enclosed within confines or to hollow bodies: to dilate the pupils of the eyes. To distend is to stretch, often beyond the point of natural expansion: to distend an artery. To inflate is to blow out or swell a hollow body with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.

Example Sentences

It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections.

From Los Angeles Times

But as Trump prepares to reenter the White House with a proposal to significantly expand tariffs, they seem to be on everyone's mind.

From Salon

“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families.

From Salon

This refrain underscores the growing partisan divide over the legislation’s priorities, with Republicans increasingly pushing for a focus on agriculture and rural development, while Democrats emphasize addressing food insecurity and expanding nutrition assistance programs.

From Salon

Project 2025’s Medicaid chapter falsely states that the ACA “mandates that states must expand their Medicaid eligibility standards” to include all individuals with income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bolster
• broaden
• develop
• enlarge
• grow
• increase
• open
• spread
• swell
• widen

More About Expand

What does expand mean?

To expand is to increase the extent or dimensions of something, as when a balloon expands when you blow air into it.

Expand can describe the increasing size of something in height, width, length, scope, boundary, or any other measurable unit of size, as when you expand an app menu by clicking on a down arrow.

To expand can also mean to stretch out or unfold, such as when a bird expands its wings when it gets ready to fly.

Figuratively, to expand means to develop or to express more fully, as in Disney really expanded the Star Wars universe when it bought the rights to it. 

A common use of expand is in the phrase expand upon, meaning to give greater detail or context. When teachers tell you to expand upon your essay’s theme, for example, they want you to describe the theme in more detail or give the theme more context so that readers will understand it better.

Example: Click and drag the corner of the square to expand it on the digital canvas.

Where does expand come from?

The first records of the term expand come from the mid-1400s. It ultimately comes from the Latin expandere meaning “to extend or stretch.”

You will likely hear expand used to talk about how smaller stories are developed into larger ones, like a novel expanded into a series of movies, as with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Favorite fictional universes are also expanded to be told in more media, as with Marvel Comics, which has expanded from comic books to movies and TV shows and more.

You’ll also likely hear expand used to talk about actions you can take online or in an app. Menus can be expanded to show all the options. Boxes and windows can be expanded, meaning you make them bigger. Photos and other digital images are also often expanded.

And let’s not forget expansion packs, which expand the original. An expansion pack for a card game might be an additional set of cards. Computer and console games can also be expanded with new stories in the expansion pack.

The best thing you can expand, though, is your mind. The more curious you are, the more you can learn and the better you can understand the world. We hope this article has helped expand your knowledge of the word expand!

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to expand?

• expandable (adjective)
• expandability (noun)
• overexpand (verb)
• reexpand (verb)
• self-expanding (adjective)

What are some synonyms for expand?

• extend
• bolster
• broaden
• develop
• enlarge

What are some words that share a root or word element with expand? 

• expander
• expanding universe
• expanse

What are some words that often get used in discussing expand?

• border
• dimensions
• information
• scope

How is expand used in real life?

Expand is typically used when describing the layout, design, or structure of something and takes on different meanings, both literal and figurative, depending on the context.

This Chandra & @NASAHubble image showcases the complex bipolar planetary nebula Menzel 3, also known as the Ant Nebula. Spanning about 2 light years (~19 trillion kilometers), this not so garden-variety ant is expanding at roughly 50 kilometers per second! #NebulaNovember pic.twitter.com/AO5scr1E3V

— Chandra Observatory (@chandraxray) November 30, 2021

Most NCAA Tournament Wins Since 1985
Duke: 88
UNC: 77
Kansas: 74
Kentucky: 74
(#MarchMadness expanded to 64 teams in '85)

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 15, 2016

Appropriate nicknames for dogs:

Borfers
Squeakers
Snoot Bois
Snoofinators
Bubs

Feel free to expand this list

— Mark (@markiplier) February 10, 2018

 

Try using expand!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for expand?

A. increase
B. grow
C. broaden
D. shrink