# expand vs extend

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### expand
*verb · IPA /ɪkˈspænd/ · frequency rank #3,944*
To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.

### extend
*verb · IPA /ɛkˈstɛnd/ · frequency rank #4,016*
To increase in extent.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/expand-vs-extend