expand over

USAGE SUMMARY

'expand over' is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to spread out or become larger in area or size. Example sentence: The city has continued to expand over the past decade.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Scenario 1 (do nothing) suggests that the contamination plume would continually expand over time.

Applied Water Science

It will likely expand over time as more partners come on board.

TechCrunch

But Tobin suspects this definition could expand over time as more studies and clinical trials accumulate.

Vice

That project is set to expand over the coming decade.

The New York Times

Is the game going to expand over time?

The Guardian - Tech

Ultimately, Christian missionary effort came to expand over the whole of Iran and even beyond.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The total addressible market has expanded over 60%.

The Guardian

However, the research sites in which DRC studies are conducted have expanded over time.

Yale University

Colonies from blood agar plates were expanded over-night in LB with 3.5 % NaCl at 7 °C.

BMC Genomics

His game has expanded over the years.

Independent

He steadily expanded over the next 20 years.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expand over" when describing how something increases in size, scope, or influence over a specific period. For instance, "The company's market share is expected to expand over the next five years."

Common error

Avoid using "expand over" when you actually mean "expand on". "Expand on" means to provide more detail or explanation, while "expand over" refers to growth or spreading in size or scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand over" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe the action of something increasing in size, scope, or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in describing growth or spreading.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

38%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expand over" effectively conveys the concept of growth or spreading across time or space. As verified by Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically sound and widely used in various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While it's important to differentiate it from "expand on", which means to elaborate, "expand over" correctly describes the increase in size, scope, or influence. Related phrases like "spread across" and "extend across" offer similar but nuanced alternatives. Understanding these distinctions will help ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spread across

Focuses on the spatial distribution, emphasizing the area covered.

extend across

Implies reaching from one point to another, highlighting linear expansion.

grow to encompass

Suggests a gradual increase to include more elements or aspects.

develop to include

Emphasizes the evolution of something to incorporate new features or areas.

increase throughout

Highlights the process of becoming larger or more numerous across a specific duration or scope.

broaden to cover

Indicates a widening of scope or range to include additional subjects or areas.

enlarge to incorporate

Suggests a physical or abstract increase in size to integrate new parts.

expand into

Signifies entering into a new area or market, highlighting the direction of growth.

stretch to span

Implies covering a distance or period, emphasizing the continuity of the expansion.

widen to affect

Focuses on the impact of the expansion, highlighting the areas or people influenced.

FAQs

How can I use "expand over" in a sentence?

The phrase "expand over" is used to describe something growing or spreading across an area or time period. For example, "The business plans to expand over the next few years" or "The floodwaters began to expand over the fields".

What are some alternatives to "expand over"?

Alternatives to "expand over" include "spread across", "extend across", and "grow to encompass", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "expand on" instead of "expand over"?

No, "expand on" and "expand over" have different meanings. "Expand on" means to elaborate or provide more details, while "expand over" means to grow or spread across an area or time. Make sure you choose the phrase that accurately reflects your intended meaning.

What's the difference between "expand over" and "expand into"?

"Expand over" implies growth or spreading across an existing area or time period, while "expand into" suggests entering a new area or market. For example, a company might "expand over" the next year to increase its current market share, or "expand into" a new country.