as in expansions
a wide space or area
the great explorers who crossed the vast expanses of the seven seas in small ships
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Recent Examples of expanses
The world’s continents are fringed by vast expanses of sand and mud.
—
David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Driving east on Route 80 toward the Meta site in Holly Ridge, an unincorporated rural community about 15 minutes east of Rayville—the landscape is defined by flat expanses of soybean and cotton fields, punctuated by grain silos, grazing cows, and the occasional tractor.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Large expanses of glass open seamlessly to the outdoors.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2026
Large expanses of the desert may flood, in some cases picking up a year’s worth of rainfall in three days.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026
The dry lake beds that flanked the highway, usually cracked expanses of tan, were becoming actual lakes.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 23 Mar. 2026
From the open expanses of the Lake District to the rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands via Wales’s peaks, there is no shortage of places to work up a sweat, al fresco, across the UK.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
In his score, Wagner manipulates space and scale, suggesting intimate chambers and vast expanses of the North Atlantic with innumerable shadings of orchestration.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
Surrounded by wide open expanses of the Santa Monica Mountains, this modern abode has a direct connection with its surroundings via the sliding doors and casement windows that swing open to beckon in fresh air and sunlight.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Driving east on Route 80 toward the Meta site in Holly Ridge, an unincorporated rural community about 15 minutes east of Rayville—the landscape is defined by flat expanses of soybean and cotton fields, punctuated by grain silos, grazing cows, and the occasional tractor.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Large expanses of glass open seamlessly to the outdoors.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2026
Large expanses of the desert may flood, in some cases picking up a year’s worth of rainfall in three days.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026
The dry lake beds that flanked the highway, usually cracked expanses of tan, were becoming actual lakes.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 23 Mar. 2026
From the open expanses of the Lake District to the rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands via Wales’s peaks, there is no shortage of places to work up a sweat, al fresco, across the UK.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
In his score, Wagner manipulates space and scale, suggesting intimate chambers and vast expanses of the North Atlantic with innumerable shadings of orchestration.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
Surrounded by wide open expanses of the Santa Monica Mountains, this modern abode has a direct connection with its surroundings via the sliding doors and casement windows that swing open to beckon in fresh air and sunlight.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expanses
Noun
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But expansions have a way of behaving like yeast.—
David Caraccio
March 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Other expansions in Charlotte with big job numbers Capital Group joins a growing list of major moves by companies expanding in the Charlotte region, adding hundreds of jobs.—
Brian Gordon,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Brown and White returned to the lineup, but both struggled for long stretches as Boston fell to 50-25.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Each session includes gentle stretches, calming breath work and mindful movement to help ease your pregnancy.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It’s supposed to be rolling plains, prairies … with intermittent tree cover.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
While the airport fell just short of 90 degrees, many communities across the plains surged into the low 90s — an extraordinary feat for March.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These clouds can sweep particles — including fungal spores — across large distances, increasing the risk of inhalation.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
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This improves aerodynamic efficiency and allows the aircraft to cover greater distances.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nearly finished 2 ¾ lengths behind Chief Wallabee to end up fourth.—
Clark Spencer,
Miami Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
-
But Benjamin is a Groffie, one of the hard-core Jonathan Groff fans going to great lengths to see their guy do his thing.—
Alexandra Starr,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When the fungi were grown on wood chips or sawdust, the resulting spongy material could be pressed and baked into blocks and sheets resembling concrete, particle board, and plywood.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
They had all been shot, wrapped in sheets, covered in quicklime and buried, along with the two family dogs.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expanses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expanses. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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