to expand

Examples

• All

• We are also ready to further expand people to people exchanges.

• When you breathe in, your lungs expand, the diaphragm moves down.

  The Knowledge Project Podcast

• So we have to help the body expand and use it more.

• Do you feel yourself expand or contract?

• So what happens when you expand something very quickly?

• We're just trying to expand the electrical department.

  Saving Grace

• The conservative movement has expanded to include us.

  YaleCourses

• The school library has allowed my knowledge of reading to expand beyond the normal classroom.

  Academic text (2015)

• Successful school librarians are constantly learning, reading, creating, and expanding their skill sets and professional proficiencies.

  Academic text (2013)

• The company plans to expand its operations to new markets this year.

Synonyms

G

to grow

vsto expand

∞ 1.0

Become larger or more physically mature

can be deliberate enlargement as well as natural or gradual growth

I

to increase

vsto expand

∞ 1.0

To make something larger or more in number

stresses spreading out or increasing range as well as size

A

to add to

vsto expand

∞ 1.8

Make something larger in number, amount or degree

also covers spreading out or growing in range and influence

E

to extend

vsto expand

520 3.2

To make something reach farther, such as more places or people

is more general about growing in size, amount, or importance

W

to widen

vsto expand

141 2.5

To make something have more space from one side to the other so it fits or moves more easily

includes width changes but also means spreading out in many ways

B

to broaden

vsto expand

90 3.9

To make or become wider and include more things

also applies to physical size and to increasing importance or range

E

to enlarge

vsto expand

67 3.0

To make something bigger in size or amount

is broader, also covering increase in range, importance, or spread

D

to dilate

vsto expand

54 6.1

To become wider or more open, as when pupils open in the dark

is broader, not limited to opening but to all kinds of increase

A

to augment

vsto expand

41 5.3

To make something bigger by adding more to it

covers growth by spreading or extending, not only adding parts

S

to scale up

vsto expand

18 3.9

Increase the size or amount of something so it still works well

is applicable more widely, not only to proportional scaling situations

E

to embiggen

vsto expand

• Slang

1 9.9

To make something bigger, often in a joking way

is the standard, neutral term for increasing size, amount, or scope

Antonyms

R

to reduce

∞ 1.6

To make something smaller in amount, size, or number

C

to contract

51 3.0

Become smaller or tighter, for example when a muscle shortens

How Much

to swell

128 3.2

to enlarge

67 3.0

to expand

917 2.5

to stretch

267 1.0

to extend

520 3.2

Surface Forms

Etymology