expand
verb OPAL W
/ɪkˈspænd/
/ɪkˈspænd/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they expand | /ɪkˈspænd/ /ɪkˈspænd/ |
| he / she / it expands | /ɪkˈspændz/ /ɪkˈspændz/ |
| past simple expanded | /ɪkˈspændɪd/ /ɪkˈspændɪd/ |
| past participle expanded | /ɪkˈspændɪd/ /ɪkˈspændɪd/ |
| -ing form expanding | /ɪkˈspændɪŋ/ /ɪkˈspændɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to become greater in size, number or importance; to make something greater in size, number or importance
- Metals expand when they are heated.
- Student numbers are expanding rapidly.
- a greatly expanded version of his earlier book
- A child's vocabulary expands through reading.
- expand to do something The waist expands to fit all sizes.
- The gallery's focus will expand to include the work of modern artists.
- expand (from something) to something By 1999, the event had expanded from two to three days.
- expand something They are continuing to expand the range of goods and services they offer.
- to expand a programme/service
- In breathing the chest muscles expand the rib cage and allow air to be sucked into the lungs.
- There are no plans to expand the local airport.
- expand something into something The short film is being expanded into a full-length documentary.
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectb1, Physics and chemistryb1- The number of managers has expanded from 700 to 1 300.
- The government has expanded economic aid to the region.
- The town has expanded into a city.
- I needed to expand my possibilities of making a living.
- The new system expanded the role of family doctors.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- considerably
- dramatically
- enormously
- …
- aim to
- be eager to
- be keen to
- …
- beyond
- from
- into
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] if a business expands or is expanded, new branches are opened, it makes more money, etc.
- an expanding economy (= with more businesses starting and growing)
- The organic market is rapidly expanding among middle-class shoppers.
- expand into something They have recently expanded into the Middle East.
- expand something We've expanded the business by opening two more stores.
- The company is planning to expand its American operations.
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb1, Businessb1- American publishers attempted to expand their markets overseas.
- Both companies are aggressively expanding their business models in Europe.
- He has plans to expand beyond computer consulting to include engineer training.
- internet companies expanding abroad
- The business has expanded greatly over the last year.
- Several brands have successfully expanded their market presence.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- considerably
- dramatically
- enormously
- …
- aim to
- be eager to
- be keen to
- …
- beyond
- from
- into
- …
- [intransitive] to talk more; to add details to what you are saying
- I repeated the question and waited for her to expand.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin expandere ‘to spread out’, from ex- ‘out’ + pandere ‘to spread’.