Synonyms for expand
ɪkˈspændex·pand

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. expandverb

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

   Synonyms:
   enlarge

   Antonyms:
   contract

2. expandverb

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

   Synonyms:
   spread, spread out, unfold

   Antonyms:
   contract

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.

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

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

   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

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

   Antonyms:
   contract, curtail, attenuate, restrict, condense

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. expand, spread outverb

   extend in one or more directions

   "The dough expands"

   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

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

2. expandverb

   become larger in size or volume or quantity

   "his business expanded rapidly"

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

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

3. expandverb

   make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity

   "expand the house by adding another wing"

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

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

4. boom, thrive, flourish, expandverb

   grow vigorously

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

   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

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

5. inflate, blow up, expand, amplifyverb

   exaggerate or make bigger

   "The charges were inflated"

   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

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

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"

   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

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

7. extend, expandverb

   expand the influence of

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

   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

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

Matched Categories

1. • Enlarge
   • Grow

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. make bigger

   Submitted by anonymous on December 18, 2019  

2. make grow

   to make grow

   she helped expand the hope in people's hearts through her kindness.

   Submitted by acronimous on April 4, 2017  

3. make larger

   to increase in size or volume

   "the balloon expanded when she blew it up.

   Submitted by rinat on August 15, 2019  

4. unfurling

   make or become spread out from a rolled or folded state, especially in order to be open to the wind.

   "the fisherman was unfurling a sail"

   Submitted by zinfandelblu on January 18, 2024  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   spread, open, unfold, evolve, lay open, spread out

2. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   dilate, distend, swell, fill out, blow up

3. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   extend, enlarge, increase, diffuse

4. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   open, be unfolded, be spread out

5. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   dilate, be distended, increase in bulk

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

1. expandverb

   Synonyms:
   dilate, distend, enlarge

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "expand":

   broaden, extend, expanding, expansion, widen, enlarge, broadening, expanded, extending, increase, widening, develop, grow, enlarging, enhance, extension, extended, enlargement, broadened, stretch, enlarged, amplify, spread, augment, increasing, expands, widened

How to pronounce expand?

How to say expand in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use expand in a sentence?

1. Sean Bratches:

   We plan to continue that relationship and expand it as we go forward.

2. The IHME:

   Many states will face enormous pressure on hospital capacity and will likely have to re-impose some social distancing mandates, the best strategy to delay re-imposition of mandates and the associated economic hardship is to expand mask use.

3. Rich Ross:

   Brands are all about trust, you can expand the universe of what people think you are, but there's only so much elasticity. On Discovery, that's why I talk about authenticity. Authenticity is job No. 1, 2 and 3.

4. Jasminko Halilovic:

   It all started when I put online a simple question: What does childhood in war mean for you? we have the idea to expand the museum's scope and start collecting memories from other conflict zones so as to create a universal exhibition that would serve as a warning against new wars.

5. Jane Kagan:

   For the first five days, only bunks will be going together to activities, after day five, assuming all campers and staff test negative, we will expand to divisions, where each age group can be together. After receiving negative results from day 14, the hope is we are a clean and healthy camp and we can sing together in the dining room and have campfires.