What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
expand
Example
The company plans to expand its operations to other countries. [expand: verb]
Example
The balloon expanded as more air was blown into it. [expanded: past tense]
extend
Example
Can you extend your arm and touch the ceiling? [extend: verb]
Example
The deadline for the project has been extended by two weeks. [extended: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Expand is more commonly used than extend in everyday language. Expand is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while extend is less common and often used in specific contexts such as business or legal documents.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between expand and extend?
Both expand and extend can be used in formal and informal contexts, but extend may be more commonly used in formal contexts such as legal or business documents.
