English verb: expand | |||
1. | expand (motion) extend in one or more directions | ||
Samples | The dough expands. | ||
Synonyms | spread out | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something is ----ing PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | grow | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bush out, dispread | ||
Antonyms | shrink, contract | ||
2. | expand (change) become larger in size or volume or quantity | ||
Samples | His business expanded rapidly. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | grow | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | balloon, billow, inflate, intumesce, swell, swell up, tumefy, tumesce | ||
3. | expand (change) make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity | ||
Samples | Expand the house by adding another wing. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | enlarge | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | blow up, develop, inflate | ||
4. | expand (change) grow vigorously | ||
Samples | The deer population in this town is thriving. Business is booming. | ||
Examples | The business is going to expand | ||
Synonyms | boom, flourish, thrive | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | grow | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | luxuriate, revive | ||
5. | expand (change) exaggerate or make bigger | ||
Samples | The charges were inflated. | ||
Synonyms | amplify, blow up, inflate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | increase | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | puff up | ||
6. | expand (communication) add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing | ||
Samples | She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation. | ||
Synonyms | dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expatiate, exposit, expound, flesh out, lucubrate | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | clarify, clear up, elucidate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | detail, exemplify, exposit, expound, illustrate, instance, particularise, particularize, set forth, specialise, specialize, specify | ||
Antonyms | abbreviate, abridge, foreshorten, shorten, contract, reduce, cut | ||
7. | expand (change) expand the influence of | ||
Samples | The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent. | ||
Synonyms | extend | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Verb group | broaden, extend, widen | ||