Antonyms for expand
ɪkˈspændex·pand

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. expandverb

   To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).

   Antonyms:
   contract

   Synonyms:
   enlarge

2. expandverb

   To (be) change(d) from a smaller form/size to a larger one.

   Antonyms:
   contract

   Synonyms:
   spread, spread out, unfold

3. expandverb

   To speak or write at length or in detail.

   He's so pedantic, he expands on everything!

   Synonyms:
   elaborate

4. expandverb

   The expression expands to .

   Antonyms:
   factor

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. expand

   Amplify is now rarely used in the sense of increase, to add material substance, bulk, volume, or the like; it is now almost wholly applied to discourse or writing, signifying to make fuller in statement, whether with or without adding matter of importance, as by stating fully what was before only implied, or by adding illustrations to make the meaning more readily apprehended, etc. The chief difficulty of very young writers is to amplify, to get beyond the bare curt statement by developing, expanding, unfolding the thought. The chief difficulty of those who have more material and experience is to condense sufficiently. So, in the early days of our literature amplify was used in the favorable sense; but at present this word and most kindred words are coming to share the derogatory meaning that has long attached to expatiate. We may develop a thought, expand an illustration, extend a discussion, expatiate on a hobby, dilate on something joyous or sad, enlarge a volume, unfold a scheme, widen the range of treatment.

   Antonyms:
   abbreviate, abridge, amputate, boil down, condense, curtail, cut down, epitomize, reduce, retrench, sum up, summarize

   Synonyms:
   amplify, augment, develop, dilate, enlarge, expatiate, extend, increase, unfold, widen

   Preposition:
   To amplify on or upon the subject is needless. Amplify this matter by illustrations.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. expand

   Antonyms:
   contract, curtail, attenuate, restrict, condense

   Synonyms:
   swell, dilate, spread, extend, open, diffuse, develop, unfold, enlarge, amplify

Matched Categories

1. • Enlarge
   • Grow

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. expand, spread outverb

   extend in one or more directions

   "The dough expands"

   Antonyms:
   contract, abbreviate, shorten, reduce, foreshorten, abridge, cut, shrink

   Synonyms:
   elaborate, unfold, expound, spread, exposit, flourish, spread out, amplify, dissipate, lucubrate, blow up, scatter, thrive, fan out, string out, extend, inflate, expatiate, splay, open, flesh out, dilate, disperse, rotate, boom, enlarge, turn out, diffuse

2. expandverb

   become larger in size or volume or quantity

   "his business expanded rapidly"

   Antonyms:
   shorten, contract, foreshorten, shrink, abbreviate, cut, reduce, abridge

   Synonyms:
   extend, exposit, enlarge, inflate, amplify, expatiate, dilate, thrive, flesh out, elaborate, boom, lucubrate, blow up, expound, spread out, flourish

3. expandverb

   make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity

   "expand the house by adding another wing"

   Antonyms:
   abridge, shrink, reduce, foreshorten, cut, abbreviate, shorten, contract

   Synonyms:
   extend, exposit, enlarge, inflate, amplify, expatiate, dilate, thrive, flesh out, elaborate, boom, lucubrate, blow up, expound, spread out, flourish

4. boom, thrive, flourish, expandverb

   grow vigorously

   "The deer population in this town is thriving"; "business is booming"

   Antonyms:
   abbreviate, contract, shrink, foreshorten, cut, reduce, abridge, shorten

   Synonyms:
   elaborate, wave, fly high, expound, exposit, flourish, spread out, blast, amplify, lucubrate, blow up, thrive, din, extend, inflate, expatiate, nail, brandish, flesh out, dilate, thunder, boom, enlarge, prosper, boom out, smash

5. inflate, blow up, expand, amplifyverb

   exaggerate or make bigger

   "The charges were inflated"

   Antonyms:
   contract, abbreviate, cut, foreshorten, shrink, abridge, reduce, shorten

   Synonyms:
   balloon, go ballistic, lucubrate, expatiate, puff out, exposit, detonate, have kittens, flip one's wig, embroider, puff up, expound, flesh out, inflate, puff, hit the roof, explode, throw a fit, boom, extend, combust, spread out, flip one's lid, magnify, dilate, amplify, pad, embellish, lard, fly off the handle, set off, lose one's temper, overstate, enlarge, billow, blow a fuse, hit the ceiling, blow up, flourish, exaggerate, aggrandise, have a fit, dramatise, elaborate, thrive, aggrandize, overdraw, hyperbolize, hyperbolise, dramatize, blow one's stack

6. elaborate, lucubrate, expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilateverb

   add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

   "She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation"

   Antonyms:
   shorten, shrink, abridge, contract, abbreviate, cut, reduce, foreshorten

   Synonyms:
   work out, refine, fat, expound, fatten, exposit, dilate, fill out, spread out, extend, amplify, blow up, rarify, lucubrate, set forth, fatten up, thrive, elaborate, magnify, plump, expatiate, inflate, fatten out, flesh out, complicate, plump out, boom, enlarge, flourish, distend, round

7. extend, expandverb

   expand the influence of

   "The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent"

   Antonyms:
   contract, foreshorten, abbreviate, shrink, reduce, cut, shorten, abridge

   Synonyms:
   lucubrate, expatiate, gallop, exposit, widen, run, lead, continue, expound, flesh out, inflate, elaborate, poke out, boom, extend, stretch out, draw out, offer, put out, dilate, carry, spread out, go, stretch, protract, stretch forth, pass, enlarge, blow up, reach out, unfold, exsert, thrive, flourish, cover, prolong, strain, hold out, amplify, broaden

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   dilate, distend, enlarge

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. abrige

   ’abridge’ means to shorten or reduce. therefore, the word farthest in meaning to the given word is ’expand’.

   Submitted by rinat on September 22, 2019  

How to use expand in a sentence?

1. New Britain:

   Training will begin with administrators and eventually expand to teachers and the health curriculum.

2. Susan Jarvis:

   It really was a process that was in place that we've been able to tap into and expand so that we can use it for the vaccination delivery and distribution.

3. Michelle Dennehy:

   The wolf population continues to grow and expand, and for the first time we’ve had wolf reproduction in southern Oregon, and we had eight breeding pairs last year. We also documented six new pairs of wolves, and 26 pups.

4. Jennifer Rodriguez:

   We are in active conversations with several states to see how we can best support their efforts to expand drive-thru testing, we don't know where the next sites will be, but we are speaking with multiple states to see how we can play a role in supporting our communities at this unprecedented time.

5. Jerome Taylor:

   We will continue searching in this area and expand out until we find Heidi Renae Todd.

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