expanse
noun
ex·panse
ik-ˈspan(t)s 
1
2
: great extent of something spread out
an expanse of calm ocean
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 on the Web
The small mare at the very centre of the moon is known, fittingly, as Sinus Medii, the Bay of the Center, while the 150-mile-wide (242-kilometer) expanse of Mare Vaporum (the Sea of Vapors) is visible 15 degrees directly above it, with the large Manilius Crater on its eastern border.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2026
But few believed it, especially after the British and French demanded that the warring nations both withdraw at least ten miles away from the canal, a move that would hand Israel a vast expanse of territory.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Perched just beyond the Bay Area’s eastern edge, this expanse of fields, orchards, subdivisions and big-box stores offers few opportunities for ambitious young professionals interested in industries such as tech and finance.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
The expanse of the American West lends a scope and majesty to the frame, while smooth transitions between 2D and 3D animation make the horse-racing scenes exhilarating.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expanse
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Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2026
But few believed it, especially after the British and French demanded that the warring nations both withdraw at least ten miles away from the canal, a move that would hand Israel a vast expanse of territory.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Perched just beyond the Bay Area’s eastern edge, this expanse of fields, orchards, subdivisions and big-box stores offers few opportunities for ambitious young professionals interested in industries such as tech and finance.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
The expanse of the American West lends a scope and majesty to the frame, while smooth transitions between 2D and 3D animation make the horse-racing scenes exhilarating.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expanse
Cite this Entry
“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expanse. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expanse
noun
ex·panse
ik-ˈspan(t)s
: a wide space, area, or stretch
the vast expanse of the ocean
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