expand

expand — verb

1. to grow larger in physical size, quantity, or significance; or to cause somethin

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to grow larger in physical size, quantity, or significance; or to cause something to become larger or more extensive in any of these ways

例句

As the dough rests in the kitchen, it will expand to about twice its size.

intransitive: physical expansion of materials

Chidi's company expanded its warehouse last year to stock more products from Asia.

transitive: expand a building for more capacity

同義詞
  • grow

    suggests a gradual, natural process, often used for living things or organic development

  • enlarge

    focuses on making something physically bigger, especially in visual terms; more concrete than 'expand'

  • increase

    most general term for a rise in number or amount; less spatial than 'expand'

  • extend

    emphasises lengthening in one direction or prolonging in time, rather than spreading outward

反義詞
  • shrink

    to become smaller in size or amount

  • contract

    to become smaller, often by tightening or drawing in

文法句型

expand + noun

expand (intransitive)

expand into + noun

expand to + amount

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'into' to indicate new territories or fields (e.g., 'expand into new markets') and with 'to' to specify a new size or scope (e.g., 'expand to 500 employees'). Can be used both transitively (with a direct object) and intransitively (without one). The subject is often a business, organization, population, or physical object.

常見錯誤

❌The company expanded good last year.
✅The company expanded well last year.
💡'expand' is a verb; it takes an adverb (well), not an adjective (good), to describe how the expansion happened.
❌The balloon expanded out.
✅The balloon expanded.
💡'expand' already includes the idea of growing outward; adding 'out' is redundant.

2. to give more information or further details about something that has been mentio

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to give more information or further details about something that has been mentioned, usually in speech or writing

例句

Could you expand on your proposal for reducing energy costs at the next meeting?

expand on + topic for elaboration

The professor asked Selim to expand his argument in the final chapter of the thesis.

transitive (formal): expand an argument in writing

同義詞
  • elaborate

    very similar in meaning but slightly more formal; often used in academic contexts

  • develop

    suggests building an idea step by step, not just adding detail

  • clarify

    focuses on making something easier to understand, not necessarily adding length

反義詞
  • summarise

    to express the main points briefly without detail

  • condense

    to make shorter by removing details

文法句型

expand on/upon + noun

expand + noun (formal)

用法筆記

Almost always used with the preposition 'on' or 'upon' to introduce the topic being explained further. The transitive use without a preposition (e.g., 'expand a point') is more formal and mainly appears in academic or professional writing. Common in conversations, lectures, presentations, and journalism.

常見錯誤

❌Please expand about your travel plans.
✅Please expand on your travel plans.
💡This sense requires 'on' or 'upon', not 'about'.
❌He expanded the story for ten minutes.
✅He expanded on the story for ten minutes.
💡When giving more details, the preposition 'on' is almost always needed.