expand

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪkˈspænd/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like expend /ɛ/ vs /æ/

Freq #7206

Meanings

1

verb
To become larger in size, amount, or extent.

Metal expands when it is heated.
2

verb
To make something larger or wider in size, amount, or scope.

The company plans to expand its business into new markets.
3

verb
To open something out or spread it to its full size.

You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to make something larger or... enlarge

3 verb · to open something out or... open outspread outunfold

More elaborate

Opposites

contract factor limit

Word family

Forms expandedexpandingexpandsunexpanded

Derived forms coexpandcompandingexpandabilityexpandableexpandedlyexpandednessexpanderexpandinglyexpandingnesshyperexpandedmisexpandnonexpanded

Related forms expanseexpansibleexpansileexpansion expansionism expansive

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

Work expands to fill the time available

Simplified etymology

Expand, literally “stretch out,” belongs to the same root family as pace, which came through Old French pas from Latin passus “stretch of the leg.” The Old French form of expand, espandre, had the specialized sense “shed, spill, or pour out.”

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

*peth₂- Proto-Indo-European espaundre xno expandō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# expand

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˈspænd/
**Frequency rank:** 7206

## Meanings
1. To become larger in size, amount, or extent.
2. To make something larger or wider in size, amount, or scope.
3. To open something out or spread it to its full size.

## Examples
- Metal expands when it is heated.
- The company plans to expand its business into new markets.
- You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.

## Synonyms
- elaborate

## Antonyms
- contract
- factor
- limit

## Derived Forms
- coexpand
- companding
- expandability
- expandable
- expandedly
- expandedness
- expander
- expandingly
- expandingness
- hyperexpanded
- misexpand
- nonexpanded

## Related Forms
- expanse
- expansible
- expansile
- expansion
- expansionism
- expansive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *peth₂-
- Root: espaundre
- Root: expandō

## Etymology
Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

## AI Etymology
Expand: Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn. In current use, the main senses are “To become larger in size, amount, or extent” and “To make something larger or wider in size, amount, or scope”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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