adjective
Uncommon
expansive
ihk-SPAN-sihv
Expansive (adjective) means covering a large area or wide range; extensive. Example: “The estate has expansive gardens that stretch for miles.”
adjective
1
Covering a large area or wide range; extensive.
"The estate has expansive gardens that stretch for miles."
2
Open, talkative, and generous in manner, especially when in a good mood.
"After a good meal, he became expansive and told stories for hours."
How to use expansive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither physically wide-ranging, or (about a person) unusually open and chatty.
Common pairings
expansive views
expansive mood
an expansive gesture
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more expansive
- Superlative
- most expansive
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The estate has _____ gardens that stretch for miles.
Etymology
From Latin expans-, the past-participle stem of expandere ("to spread out"), plus the "-ive" ending.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unexpansive
Related words
Rhymes for expansive
See all rhymes for expansive →Frequently asked questions
What does “expansive” mean?
The word “expansive” means covering a large area or wide range; extensive. In plain terms, either physically wide-ranging, or (about a person) unusually open and chatty.
How do you pronounce “expansive”?
“Expansive” is pronounced ihk-SPAN-sihv (/ɪkˈspænsɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “expansive” in a sentence?
Here is “expansive” used in a sentence: “The estate has expansive gardens that stretch for miles.”
What part of speech is “expansive”?
“Expansive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “expansive” come from?
The word “expansive” comes from Latin. From Latin expans-, the past-participle stem of expandere ("to spread out"), plus the "-ive" ending.
Is “expansive” a common word?
“Expansive” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “expansive” have?
“Expansive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covering a large area or wide range; extensive.
