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//ɪkˈspænd// verb

verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open. transitive

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

  2. 2
    become larger in size or volume or quantity wordnet
  3. 3
    To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something). transitive

    "A flower expands its leaves."

  4. 4
    exaggerate or make bigger wordnet
  5. 5
    To express (something) at length and/or in detail. transitive
Show 13 more definitions
  1. 6
    grow vigorously wordnet
  2. 7
    To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms. transitive

    "Use the binomial theorem to expand #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴."

  3. 8
    expand the influence of wordnet
  4. 9
    To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms. intransitive

    "The expression #123;(x#43;1)#125;⁴ expands to x⁴#43;4x³#43;6x²#43;4x#43;1."

  5. 10
    make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity wordnet
  6. 11
    To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value). transitive

    "Expanding 4#47;7 by 3 gives 12#47;21."

  7. 12
    add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing wordnet
  8. 13
    To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size. intransitive

    "Many materials expand when heated."

  9. 14
    extend in one or more directions wordnet
  10. 15
    To increase in extent, number, volume or scope. intransitive
  11. 16
    To speak or write at length or in detail. intransitive

    "He expanded on his plans for the business."

  12. 17
    To feel generous or optimistic. intransitive
  13. 18
    In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to show the subentries of (an entry). transitive

Synonyms

All synonyms
elaborateextenddevelopelaborateenlargeenlarge

Example

More examples

"People want more money to expand educational institutions."

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.

Related phrases

expand one's wingsat lengthin detailnatural number

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.