expanse

noun

ex·​panse ik-ˈspan(t)s How to pronounce expanse (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Places like Antarctica, Tasmania, and New Zealand sometimes offer glimpses of the elusive southern lights, but one of the most compelling places to witness the celestial event is in Patagonia, the mountainous expanse that straddles southern Argentina and Chile. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025 Arizona, with its abundant sun, lack of oil and gas resources, open desert expanses and business-friendly policies, has been a leader in welcoming clean energy progress incentivized by Biden-era programs. Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025 Hynes directed the accompanying music video, which stars the artist and friends making their way through the green expanses of rural England. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 26 June 2025 An extensive review of commercial reports and academic papers providing measures of the size of the sports industry, coupled with an examination of how other industries were sized, provided a number of helpful ideas for building a model that captured the broad expanse of the global sports industry. Dennis Howard, Sportico.com, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for expanse

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expanse was in 1637

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expanse. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

expanse

noun
ex·​panse ik-ˈspan(t)s How to pronounce expanse (audio)
: a wide space, area, or stretch
the vast expanse of the ocean

More from Merriam-Webster on expanse

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