Expanded

[ɪkˈspændɪd]

verbmedium🔥Very CommonGeneral
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To increase in size, volume, scope, or extent; to make or become larger or more extensive.

[ɪkˈspænd]

verbneutralmedium
General

To increase in size, volume, or extent.

The company expanded its operations to include international markets.

💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite pair of jeans. If you ate a whole pizza, they might *expand* to fit your bigger belly! Basically, to expand means to get bigger.

👶 For kids: To get bigger!

More Examples

2

The universe is believed to be constantly expanding.

3

During the hot summer months, the river expands, and the water level rises.

How It's Used

Economics

"The government expanded the economy by lowering interest rates."

Science

"The gas expanded when heated."

2

Having been made larger or more extensive; increased in size or scope.

[ɪkˈspændɪd]

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Increased or enlarged.

The museum held an expanded exhibition of ancient artifacts.

💡 Simply: Imagine you made a small toy bigger. The bigger toy is the *expanded* version. So expanded just means 'made bigger'.

👶 For kids: Already got bigger!

More Examples

2

The expanded menu at the restaurant offered many new choices.

3

The expanded highway made the commute faster for drivers.

How It's Used

General usage

"The expanded version of the book included new chapters."

Business

"The company's expanded marketing strategy boosted sales."

Tip:Think of something that used to be small and is now bigger – it's expanded.

From Middle English expanden, from Latin expandere (“to spread out, extend”), from ex- (“out, forth”) + pandere (“to spread, stretch”).

Historically, 'expand' has been used since the 15th century, primarily in the context of extending or enlarging something, both physically and metaphorically (e.g., knowledge).

Memory tip

Think of a balloon expanding as it fills with air.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to spread out, extend"

expand on (a topic)expand the businessexpand the scopean expanded versionrapidly expanding

Common misspellings

expendedexpanedexpnded

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written