expand

/ɪkˈspænd/

//ɪkˈspænd// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"expand" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“expand” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #3,944. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#3,944
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
7
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.

Corpus desk

Index EN-expand · expand · English

expand · rank #3,944 · 9 variants · 7 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #3,944
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 7 pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH exit

Nearest frequency peer: exit (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “expand”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “expand” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

expand vs expat
67% similar
expand vs extend
67% similar
expand vs extant
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for expand
PropertyValue
Headwordexpand
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪkˈspænd/
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,944
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “expand”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).expandlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “exit” (#3,943), “fancy” (#3,945), “exception” (#3,942). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “expand” is #3,944. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around expand (IPA /ɪkˈspænd/), averb. Corpus frequency is #3,944 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 11 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for expand, with forms such as "epxand", "exapnd", and "expadn". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 7 confusable-pair relationships, "expat", "extend", "extant", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn. The correct English form is expand, spelled E-X-P-A-N-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
  2. 2
    To increase the extent, number, volume or scope of (something).
  3. 3
    To express (something) at length and/or in detail.
  4. 4
    To rewrite (an expression) as a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
  5. 5
    To become, by rewriting, a longer, yet equivalent, sum of terms.
  6. 6
    To multiply both the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same (non-zero) number (which yields a fraction of equal value).
  7. 7
    To change or grow from smaller to larger in form, number, or size.
  8. 8
    To increase in extent, number, volume or scope.
  9. 9
    To speak or write at length or in detail.
  10. 10
    To feel generous or optimistic.
  11. 11
    In a hierarchical list (such as a directory tree or table of contents), to show the subentries of (an entry).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how expand appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. You can expand this compact umbrella to cover a large table.
  2. A flower expands its leaves.

Etymology

Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn.

Synonyms

open outspreadspread outunfoldenlargeelaborateexpand on

Antonyms

contractcontractlimitlimitfactor

This word in other languages

ampliar(Español)agrandir(Français)expandieren(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • epxand
  • exapnd
  • expadn
  • expandd
  • expannd
  • expnad
  • exppand
  • exxpand
  • xepand

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of expand - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

epxand2exapnd2expadn2expandd1expannd1expnad2exppand1exxpand1
Edit distance from "expand"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "expand"?
"expand" is spelled E-X-P-A-N-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪkˈspænd/.
What does "expand" mean?
As a verb, "expand" means: To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
What words are commonly confused with "expand"?
"expand" is commonly confused with "expat", "extend", "extant". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "expand"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "expand" is /ɪkˈspænd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "expand"?
Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandere (“to spread out”), itself from ex- (“out, outwards”) + pandō (“to spread”). Doublet of spawn. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "expand", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

heroes#3,948inches#3,951cotton#3,935Johnny#3,954

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

crossed9 variantsluxury9 variantsbreast9 variantsoutcome9 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list