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  

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?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use expand in a sentence?

1. Mickey Mehta:

   Stretch your body in yoga and your mind stretches its imagination to its infinite potential too. Deep breathe, expand your lungs and expand your awareness to the edges of this universe too, harness your life forces & get them internalized, be the master of this universe with yoga and get MickeyMized.

2. Bruce Lee:

   When the opponent expand, I contract, When he contracts, I expand, And when there is an opportunity, I do not hit--it hits all by itself.

3. State Department spokesman Mark Toner:

   We have made great progress towards making our posts safer since 2012, … Our implementation efforts include work to expand the corps of Diplomatic Security personnel, enhance interagency coordination to address threat information, expand the Marine Security Guard program, and accelerate projects to build and upgrade secure facilities.

4. Dr. Karl Menninger:

   Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.

5. Joseph Votel:

   Votel told Fox News’ Catherine Herridge. The intent is to create a situation where NATO can't continue to thrive. Votel said he did not have unique insights into Russian President Vladimir Putin but he believes Putin sees the expansion of NATO ...as a threat to him and I think what they (Moscow) are attempting to do is create these frozen conflicts and create situations that are very, very difficult to resolve along their border. That does, could pose an existential threat, Votel added. He also said Russia is using a hybrid approach to warfare where state and non-state actors are mixing military and non-military capabilities. The result is a coercive effect...using information operations, using manipulation of media , using social media. Since January, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia – three traditional U.S. allies - have completed significant nuclear energy deals with Russia. Asked if this is evidence of Putin's effort to further expand Russia’s reach, and the seeds of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, Votel replied it was proof of Moscow's push to challenge the U.S. and expand its influence. Votel said SOCOM is assisting those countries that want to resist Russian influence. We work with partners to help develop their capabilities, we help our embassies with some of their messaging activities that they are doing out there to make sure that truthful information is getting out to populations. We use our civil affairs capability to help connect governments to their populations and strengthen those relationships. In doing that, (we) reduce those vulnerabilities of populations who may be vulnerable to this type of pressure they get from outside countries . Asked about Al Qaeda, Votel said the terror group was diminished in east Africa, Syria and Yemen, but the lesson of the last decade is that the U.S. and its allies must maintain pressure or the groups will reinvent and reconstitute. The leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is believed to be in Pakistan, and has been noticeably silent on the June drone strike that killed the organization's number two , Naser al Wuhayishi, who also was the leader of the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen. To me it is a good sign it’s an indication that we have been very effective at isolating him so that is kind of my initial reaction.