Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense expands, present participle expanding, past tense, past participle expanded
1. verb
If something expands or is expanded, it becomes larger.
Engineers noticed that the pipes were not expanding as expected. [VERB]
The money supply expanded by 14.6 per cent in the year to September. [VERB]
We have to expand the size of the image. [VERB noun]
...a rapidly expanding universe. [VERB-ing]
...strips of expanded polystyrene. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: make bigger, increase, develop, extend More Synonyms of expand
2. verb
If something such as a business, organization, or service expands, or if you expand it, it becomes bigger and includes more people, goods, or activities.
[business]
The popular ceramics industry expanded towards the middle of the 19th century. [VERB]
The interest rate's coming down. I'll be able to expand or stay in business. [VERB]
I owned a bookshop and desired to expand the business. [VERB noun]
Health officials are proposing to expand their services by organising counselling. [VERB noun]
Phrasal verbs:
See expand on
More Synonyms of expand
expand in British English
(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. (intransitive; often foll byon)
to enlarge or expatiate on (a story, topic, etc) in detail
4. (intransitive)
to become increasingly relaxed, friendly, or talkative
5. mathematics
to express (a function or expression) as the sum or product of terms
Derived forms
expandable (exˈpandable)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin expandere to spread out, from pandere to spread, extend
expand in American English
(ikˈspænd)
transitive verb
1.
to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc
Heat expands most metals
He hopes to expand his company
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. Math
a.
to write (a mathematical expression) so as to show the products of its factors
Compare "> factor (sense 10)
b.
to rewrite (a mathematical expression) as a sum, product, etc., of terms of a particular kind
to expand a function in a power series
intransitive verb
5.
to increase or grow in extent, bulk, scope, etc
Most metals expand with heat
The mind expands with experience
6.
to spread out; unfold; develop
The buds had not yet expanded
7. (usually fol. by on or upon)
to express something more fully or in greater detail
to expand on a statement
Derived forms
expandable or expandible
adjective
expandability or expandibility
noun
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME expanden ‹ L expandere to spread out, equiv. to ex-ex-1 + pandere to extend, stretch]
Examples of 'expand' in a sentence
expand
The recent depreciation of the pound could disrupt her plans to expand the product range.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Dogs for Good wants to expand this service to work with other charities.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But earnings at the womenswear seller were down, as it expanded rapidly.
The Sun (2016)
The father of another said he did not blame the university, which is expanding its counselling service.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I want to further my skills, expand my business.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its online business is also expanding rapidly with'significant growth' in its sales from mobile phones.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It came as the group expanded rapidly, with 32 new stores worldwide.
The Sun (2016)
Productivity stubbornly refuses to rise, so more jobs are not expanding the size of the economic pie;?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also has ambitions to broaden its product range and expand geographically.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The numbers show how rapidly trade has expanded.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Is it possible to add another service rather than expand?
Christianity Today (2000)
This was drawing in more shoppers while its online business was expanding.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The result was that the supply of credit expanded.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We will make efforts to expand and strengthen these relations.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There may be scope to expand this and include portions of criminal fines as well.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Her intention is to hit demand for this rapidly expanding industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Student protests about teaching quality have grown as higher education has expanded and class sizes have grown.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
New opportunities for work outside the home expanded rapidly.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
The duo will look for other land deals to expand the business.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Direct mail operations are likely to expand and become increasingly selective and specific.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
In the next few years the web is set to expand rapidly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Heavy industry was expanded originally to meet these national defence needs before a single railway line was constructed.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
These systems need to change each time we expand the size of the group we join forces with.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The service was expanding rapidly because of the sharp rise in prisoner numbers and the need to open new establishments.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
To expand that money supply, somebody has to borrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Over time, it makes sense to expand your portfolio.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It has since expanded into security products such as passports, driving licences and tax stamps.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Consequently, retailers have been looking for ways to reduce their labour bill while expanding services.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
I wanted to work internationally and expand the scope of my possibilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The theory of portfolio choice tells us that as the business cycle expands and wealth increases, the demand for bonds will rise as well.
Mishkin, Frederic S. Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (1995)
In other languages
expand
British English: expand VERB
If something expands or is expanded, it becomes larger.
Engineers noticed that the pipes were not expanding as expected.
American English: expand
Brazilian Portuguese: expandir
Chinese: 膨胀
European Spanish: expandir
French: croître
German: ausdehnen
Italian: dilatare
Japanese: 拡張する
Korean: 늘어나다
European Portuguese: expandir
Latin American Spanish: expandir
Chinese translation of 'expand'
expand
(ɪksˈpænd)
vt
[business, staff, numbers]扩(擴)展 (kuòzhǎn)
[area]拓展 (tuòzhǎn)
vi
[business]扩(擴)展 (kuòzhǎn)
[gas, metal]膨胀(脹) (péngzhàng)
to expand on sth[notes, story, comments]详(詳)述某事 (xiángshù mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to make or become greater in extent, size, or scope
Water expands as it freezes.
Synonyms
get bigger
increase
The population continues to increase.
grow
The puddle under the burst pipe was growing.
extend
swell
The limbs swell to an enormous size.
widen
The river widens considerably as it begins to turn east.
blow up
wax
Portugal and Spain had vast empires which waxed and waned.
heighten
enlarge
The glands in the neck may enlarge.
multiply
inflate
He jumped into the sea and inflated the liferaft.
thicken
fill out
lengthen
fatten
The creature continued to grow and fatten.
dilate
The pupils dilate to let in more light.
become bigger
puff up
become larger
distend
The large intestine distends and fills with gas.
Opposites
contract,
shrink
, decrease
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become greater in extent, size, or scope
We can expand the size of the image.
Synonyms
make bigger
increase
The company has increased the price of its cars.
develop
They allowed me to develop their original idea.
extend
They have added three new products to extend their range.
widen
He had an operation to widen an artery in his heart.
blow up
The scandal blew up into a major political furore.
heighten
The move has heightened tension in the state.
enlarge
plans to enlarge the park into a 30,000 all-seater stadium
multiply
Her new job has multiplied the demands on her time.
broaden
We must broaden our appeal.
inflate
Even his war record was fraudulently inflated.
thicken
fill out
lengthen
The runway had to be lengthened.
magnify
The telescope magnifies images over 11 times.
amplify
The music was amplified with microphones.
augment
She was searching for a way to augment her income.
dilate
make larger
distend
bloat
protract
Opposites
reduce
, decrease,
shorten
,
condense
3 (verb)
Definition
to spread out
The flowers fully expand at night.
Synonyms
spread (out)
open (out)
stretch (out)
unfold
He quickly unfolded the blankets and spread them on the mattress.
unravel
diffuse
unfurl
two weeks later when the leaves unfurl
unroll
outspread
phrasal verb
See expand on something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amplify
Definition
to increase the size, extent, or effect of
The music was amplified with microphones.
Synonyms
expand,
raise,
extend,
boost,
stretch,
strengthen,
increase,
widen,
intensify,
heighten,
deepen,
enlarge,
lengthen,
magnify,
augment,
dilate
in the sense of augment
Definition
to make or become greater in number or strength
She was searching for a way to augment her income.
Synonyms
increase,
grow,
raise,
extend,
boost,
expand,
add to,
build up,
strengthen,
enhance,
reinforce,
swell,
intensify,
heighten,
enlarge,
multiply,
inflate,
magnify,
amplify,
dilate
in the sense of blow up
Definition
to come into existence with sudden force
The scandal blew up into a major political furore.