Standard Lemma guide

expatiate

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ɪkˈspeɪʃɪeɪt/
  • /ɛkˈspeɪʃɪeɪt/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: descant, dilate, enlarge, expound, expand, elaborate

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To range at large, or without restraint.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To expand; to spread; to extend; to diffuse; to broaden.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She elaborated on the main ideas in her dissertation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: elaborate, lucubrate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: clarify, clear up, elucidate

Narrower terms: detail, set forth, expound, exposit, exemplify, illustrate, instance, specify, particularize, particularise, specialize, specialise

History

Etymology

From the participle stem of Latin expatior, from ex- + spatior (“walk about”).

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: разпространявам се (razprostranjavam se) — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Dutch: uitweiden — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • French: parler longuement — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • French: appesentir sur quelque chose — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Greek: μακρηγορώ (makrigoró) — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Hungarian: fejteget — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Persian: شرح و بسط دادن — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Russian: распространя́ться (rasprostranjátʹsja) — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Russian: разглаго́льствовать (razglagólʹstvovatʹ) — to write or speak at length; to be copious in argument or discussion, to descant
  • Bulgarian: блуждая (bluždaja) — to range at large, or without restraint