Expansion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ik-ˈspan(t)-shən/ ex·pan·sion

Meaning & Definition of Expansion

Expansion (noun)

  1. expanse
  2. the act or process of expanding
  3. the quality or state of being expanded

Expansion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something added (as by growth)

    "the museum's new wing is only the first in a series of expansions planned for the next decade"

    similar: accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick
    related: accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike
    opposite: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    near: deduction, subtraction

  2. the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced

    "the expansion of remedial reading classes into a district-wide program using school volunteers for a variety of needs"

    similar: development, elaboration, evolution, growth, progress, progression
    related: advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement, incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation, emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis
    opposite: regress, regression, retrogression, reversion
    near: backslide, lapse, relapse, decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

  3. a wide space or area

    "we gazed in awe at the star-strewn expansion of nighttime sky above us"

    similar: breadth, distance, expanse, extent, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, waste
    related: domain, sphere, territory, compass, range, scope, sweep, gamut, scale, spectrum, depth, emptiness, void, extension, latitude, span, amplitude, immensity, magnitude

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Expansion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Expansion:

accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick, development, elaboration, evolution, growth, progress, progression, breadth, distance, expanse, extent, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, waste

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Expansion

Words with the opposite meaning of Expansion:

abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down, regress, regression, retrogression, reversion

Related Words for Expansion

accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike, advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement, incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, enhancement, supplementation, emergence, evolvement

Near Antonyms of Expansion

deduction, subtraction, backslide, lapse, relapse, decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

Word Forms of Expansion

Derived words: expansional (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Expansion

First known use: 1611

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Expansion

Words & Phrases Containing Expansion

expansion card, expansion slot

Frequently Asked Questions about Expansion

What does "Expansion" mean?

"Expansion" means expanse. As a noun, it is defined as: expanse. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Expansion"?

Other words for "Expansion" include accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, gain and increase. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Expansion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Expansion"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Expansion". Common alternatives include accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, gain, increase, increment and more.

What is the opposite of "Expansion"?

Antonyms of "Expansion" include abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution and drop-off. Near antonyms include deduction, subtraction, backslide and lapse.

How do you use "Expansion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Expansion" in a sentence: "the museum's new wing is only the first in a series of expansions planned for the next decade"; "the expansion of remedial reading classes into a district-wide program using school volunteers for a variety of needs"; "we gazed in awe at the star-strewn expansion of nighttime sky above us".

Is "Expansion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Expansion" is a noun.

Is "Expansion" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Expansion"?

"Expansion" is pronounced /ik-ˈspan(t)-shən/ and divided into syllables as ex·pan·sion.