What are some opposite words for expand?

Antonyms for expand
ɪkˈspændex·pand

This page is about all possible antonyms and opposite words for the term expand.

Wiktionary0.0 / 0 votes

  1. expandverb

    To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).

    Antonyms:
    contract

    Synonyms:
    enlarge

  2. expandverb

    To (be) change(d) from a smaller form/size to a larger one.

    Antonyms:
    contract

    Synonyms:
    spread, spread out, unfold

  3. expandverb

    To speak or write at length or in detail.

    He's so pedantic, he expands on everything!

    Synonyms:
    elaborate

  4. expandverb

    The expression expands to .

    Antonyms:
    factor

English Synonyms and Antonyms2.0 / 1 vote

  1. expand

    Amplify is now rarely used in the sense of increase, to add material substance, bulk, volume, or the like; it is now almost wholly applied to discourse or writing, signifying to make fuller in statement, whether with or without adding matter of importance, as by stating fully what was before only implied, or by adding illustrations to make the meaning more readily apprehended, etc. The chief difficulty of very young writers is to amplify, to get beyond the bare curt statement by developing, expanding, unfolding the thought. The chief difficulty of those who have more material and experience is to condense sufficiently. So, in the early days of our literature amplify was used in the favorable sense; but at present this word and most kindred words are coming to share the derogatory meaning that has long attached to expatiate. We may develop a thought, expand an illustration, extend a discussion, expatiate on a hobby, dilate on something joyous or sad, enlarge a volume, unfold a scheme, widen the range of treatment.

    Antonyms:
    abbreviate, abridge, amputate, boil down, condense, curtail, cut down, epitomize, reduce, retrench, sum up, summarize

    Synonyms:
    amplify, augment, develop, dilate, enlarge, expatiate, extend, increase, unfold, widen

    Preposition:
    To amplify on or upon the subject is needless. Amplify this matter by illustrations.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms0.0 / 0 votes

  1. expand

    Antonyms:
    contract, curtail, attenuate, restrict, condense

    Synonyms:
    swell, dilate, spread, extend, open, diffuse, develop, unfold, enlarge, amplify

Matched Categories

Princeton's WordNet2.7 / 3 votes

  1. expand, spread outverb

    extend in one or more directions

    "The dough expands"

    Antonyms:
    contract, abbreviate, shorten, reduce, foreshorten, abridge, cut, shrink

    Synonyms:
    elaborate, unfold, expound, spread, exposit, flourish, spread out, amplify, dissipate, lucubrate, blow up, scatter, thrive, fan out, string out, extend, inflate, expatiate, splay, open, flesh out, dilate, disperse, rotate, boom, enlarge, turn out, diffuse

  2. expandverb

    become larger in size or volume or quantity

    "his business expanded rapidly"

    Antonyms:
    shorten, contract, foreshorten, shrink, abbreviate, cut, reduce, abridge

    Synonyms:
    extend, exposit, enlarge, inflate, amplify, expatiate, dilate, thrive, flesh out, elaborate, boom, lucubrate, blow up, expound, spread out, flourish

  3. expandverb

    make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity

    "expand the house by adding another wing"

    Antonyms:
    abridge, shrink, reduce, foreshorten, cut, abbreviate, shorten, contract

    Synonyms:
    extend, exposit, enlarge, inflate, amplify, expatiate, dilate, thrive, flesh out, elaborate, boom, lucubrate, blow up, expound, spread out, flourish

  4. boom, thrive, flourish, expandverb

    grow vigorously

    "The deer population in this town is thriving"; "business is booming"

    Antonyms:
    abbreviate, contract, shrink, foreshorten, cut, reduce, abridge, shorten

    Synonyms:
    elaborate, wave, fly high, expound, exposit, flourish, spread out, blast, amplify, lucubrate, blow up, thrive, din, extend, inflate, expatiate, nail, brandish, flesh out, dilate, thunder, boom, enlarge, prosper, boom out, smash

  5. inflate, blow up, expand, amplifyverb

    exaggerate or make bigger

    "The charges were inflated"

    Antonyms:
    contract, abbreviate, cut, foreshorten, shrink, abridge, reduce, shorten

    Synonyms:
    balloon, go ballistic, lucubrate, expatiate, puff out, exposit, detonate, have kittens, flip one's wig, embroider, puff up, expound, flesh out, inflate, puff, hit the roof, explode, throw a fit, boom, extend, combust, spread out, flip one's lid, magnify, dilate, amplify, pad, embellish, lard, fly off the handle, set off, lose one's temper, overstate, enlarge, billow, blow a fuse, hit the ceiling, blow up, flourish, exaggerate, aggrandise, have a fit, dramatise, elaborate, thrive, aggrandize, overdraw, hyperbolize, hyperbolise, dramatize, blow one's stack

  6. elaborate, lucubrate, expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilateverb

    add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

    "She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation"

    Antonyms:
    shorten, shrink, abridge, contract, abbreviate, cut, reduce, foreshorten

    Synonyms:
    work out, refine, fat, expound, fatten, exposit, dilate, fill out, spread out, extend, amplify, blow up, rarify, lucubrate, set forth, fatten up, thrive, elaborate, magnify, plump, expatiate, inflate, fatten out, flesh out, complicate, plump out, boom, enlarge, flourish, distend, round

  7. extend, expandverb

    expand the influence of

    "The King extended his rule to the Eastern part of the continent"

    Antonyms:
    contract, foreshorten, abbreviate, shrink, reduce, cut, shorten, abridge

    Synonyms:
    lucubrate, expatiate, gallop, exposit, widen, run, lead, continue, expound, flesh out, inflate, elaborate, poke out, boom, extend, stretch out, draw out, offer, put out, dilate, carry, spread out, go, stretch, protract, stretch forth, pass, enlarge, blow up, reach out, unfold, exsert, thrive, flourish, cover, prolong, strain, hold out, amplify, broaden

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words0.0 / 0 votes

  1. expandverb

    Synonyms:
    dilate, distend, enlarge

Editors Contribution0.0 / 0 votes

  1. abrige

    ’abridge’ means to shorten or reduce. therefore, the word farthest in meaning to the given word is ’expand’.

    Submitted by rinat on September 22, 2019  

How to use expand in a sentence?

  1. The State Department official:

    He doesn't want to see the Kurds expand their territory. He doesn't want the US to be a permanent supporter of the Kurds and thinks the Americans are naive to work with them.

  2. Jerome Taylor:

    We will continue searching in this area and expand out until we find Heidi Renae Todd.

  3. Susan Zirinsky:

    I have been honored to work closely throughout my career with great CBS News journalists, this may be a new role, but the mission is the same : deliver quality, in-depth journalism and engaging storytelling. CBS News has an incredible legacy to build on. The public's interest today for news and information is intense, and CBS News is uniquely positioned to expand its reach.

  4. Joshua Matz:

    There is a real appetite on the part of the conservative majority to rapidly expand the Free Exercise Clause while shrinking the Establishment Clause to a vanishing point.

  5. Kristalina Georgieva:

    It will continue to be so important, even more important, for us to be able to expand our capacity to support countries that have fallen behind.

How to pronounce expand?

How to say expand in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#1204contract
#1324cut
#2036reduce
#2090factor
#3129expand
#9424restrict
#13161shrink
#16650summarize
#26128shorten
#43430curtail
#60459condense
#75186attenuate
#82163abbreviate
#101576abridge
#142401epitomize
#173180amputate
#225728retrench

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    D dicey

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