expanse

noun ex·panse \ ik-ˈspan(t)s \

Updated on: 3 Dec 2017

Definition of expanse

1 : firmament

2 : great extent of something spread out

an expanse of calm ocean

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Examples of expanse in a Sentence

The explorer gazed across the vast Arctic expanse.
the great explorers who crossed the vast expanses of the seven seas in small ships

Recent Examples of expanse from the Web

The view from the passenger seat is fantastic, but again there's a huge expanse of dashboard between you and the front of the car.

— sebastian anthony, Ars Technica, "Range Rover Velar review: A handsome slab of British luxury," 18 Sep. 2017
To make this expanse human-scale, the design features four rows of trees, drainage gardens and 14-foot sidewalks.

— mike lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Fast lane meets slow lane on Bothell’s new ‘multiway’," 5 Sep. 2017
The expanse will begin to lose its flourish in early November.

— meredith carey, CNT, "Chile's Atacama Desert Is Now a Floral Wonderland," 30 Aug. 2017
Alaska has now, and will have then the greatest expanses of unbuilt, virtually unmanipulated land in the U.S.

— steve haycox, Alaska Dispatch News, "Imagine Alaska at the tricentennial," 4 Nov. 2017
The whole vast expanse of Palace Square is packed with people.

— olga ingurazova, Smithsonian, "What Ever Happened to the Russian Revolution?," 29 Sep. 2017
The rumor about Frida Sofia had spread far and wide, from rescuers who talked to someone who talked to someone to the great expanse of social media, where Mexico’s top trending topic Wednesday was #FridaSofia.

— nacha cattan, Bloomberg.com, "The Fate of Frida Grips Mexico After Deadly Quake," 21 Sep. 2017
The search covered a vast expanse of ocean between Oahu, the island where the soldiers lived and trained, and Niihau, Hawaii’s westernmost main island.

— audrey mcavoy, The Seattle Times, "Helicopter crash takes lovable prankster, confident dreamer," 31 Aug. 2017
But much of the forest canopy is spread out below, a sweeping green expanse of trees, lianas, and their inhabitants.

— christian ziegler, National Geographic, "One Tiny Wasp Turns a Fig Tree Into a 150-Foot-High Eden," 29 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expanse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of expanse

New Latin expansum, from Latin, neuter of expansus, past participle of expandere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1637

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expanse Synonyms

Synonyms

breadth, distance, expansion, extent, field, length, plain, reach, sheet, spread, stretch, waste

Related Words

domain, sphere, territory; compass, range, scope, sweep; gamut, scale, spectrum; depth, emptiness, void; extension, latitude, span; amplitude, immensity, magnitude

EXPANSE Defined for English Language Learners

expanse

noun

Definition of expanse for English Language Learners

: a large and usually flat open space or area

EXPANSE Defined for Kids

expanse

noun ex·panse \ ik-ˈspans \

Definition of expanse for Students

: a wide area or stretch

an expanse of desert

Learn More about expanse

See words that rhyme with expanse Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for expanse Spanish Central: Translation of expanse Nglish: Translation of expanse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of expanse for Arabic speakers

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expanse

Definition of expanse

Examples of expanse in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of expanse

expanse Synonyms

Synonyms

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EXPANSE Defined for English Language Learners

expanse

Definition of expanse for English Language Learners

EXPANSE Defined for Kids

expanse

Definition of expanse for Students

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expanse

Definition of expanse

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Examples of expanse in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of expanse

expanse Synonyms

Synonyms

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EXPANSE Defined for English Language Learners

expanse

Definition of expanse for English Language Learners

EXPANSE Defined for Kids

expanse

Definition of expanse for Students

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