dilate

verb

Definition of dilatenext
as in to distend

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dilate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dilate are amplify, distend, expand, inflate, and swell. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

When is amplify a more appropriate choice than dilate?

In some situations, the words amplify and dilate are roughly equivalent. However, amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When can distend be used instead of dilate?

The words distend and dilate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

Where would expand be a reasonable alternative to dilate?

Although the words expand and dilate have much in common, expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When is it sensible to use inflate instead of dilate?

The synonyms inflate and dilate are sometimes interchangeable, but inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

When would swell be a good substitute for dilate?

The words swell and dilate can be used in similar contexts, but swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dilate In order to find out if this was the case, doctors needed to dilate his pupils to check. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025 Erections rely on the bioavailability of nitric oxide and the ability of blood vessels to dilate efficiently. —Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 Our interview, however, was just two days earlier, and his surrogate was already three centimeters dilated! —Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 12 June 2025 Hissing Another common sign, according to Smith, is hissing at you while their pupils are dilated. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilate
  1. distend
  2. inflate
  3. augment
  4. increase
  5. expand
  6. enlarge
  7. swell
  8. accelerate
Verb
  • The effect is to both collapse and distend time until all the souls in the book, most of them nameless anyway, exist at the same time, in the same place, forever.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Isaiah was also malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death, with his small and large intestines markedly distended.
    — Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2017
Definition of distend
Verb
  • In 2022, The Republic found higher-than-allowed levels of pesticides in products purchased at a dispensary that had already cleared the testing process and a lab that consistently inflated its potency results.
    — Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
  • For businesses focused on scalability, AEI helps track efficiency without inflating operational costs.
    — Jigar Kothari, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of inflate
Verb
  • The Royals must win games and remain in the playoff mix in order to keep their current roster together — and perhaps even augment it.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
  • This is among the greatest strengths of AI—augmenting human capabilities.
    — Hank Boughner, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of augment
Verb
  • Decades of research and studies in agriculture have increased production across all crops in the U.S., said James, and cannabis can adopt those same technologies.
    — Julie Weed, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • The top reason students opt not to pursue higher education is cost, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board states, though having a degree can drastically increase earnings.
    — Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
Definition of increase
Verb
  • The plan laid out in Tuesday’s staff report proposed a ballot measure that would expand protections for thousands of acres of open space across Irvine.
    — Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 26 July 2025
  • Plans to redevelop and expand Whitefish Bay's Sendik's Food Market would put a new two-story store on a prominent Silver Spring Drive corner just east of the grocer's existing location, which would be demolished and turned into a parking lot.
    — Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
Definition of expand
Verb
  • After renovations that enlarged that space and added shelving on three sides, the overflow room became the always-flowing room, one of the sets for Hurwitz’s videos.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
  • Some risks of testosterone therapy include worsening sleep apnea, acne, enlarging the prostate or breasts, increasing growth of prostate cancer, reducing sperm counts, causing the testicles to shrink and increasing the risk of clots, according to Mayo Clinic.
    — Shiv Sudhakar, NBC news, 14 July 2025
Definition of enlarge
Verb
  • Oral allergy symptoms include swelling and itching around your mouth, tongue, lips, throat and entire face.
    — Raven Brunner, People.com, 13 July 2025
  • The nonprofit has deployed dozens of volunteers to Texas’ Hill Country, where more than 173 people remain missing and at least 120 have been confirmed dead after the Guadalupe River rapidly swelled beyond its banks on Friday.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025
Definition of swell
Verb
  • Our graduates will now re-enter the market faster, prepared to hit the ground running and accelerate their careers.
    — Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
  • Starvation Much of Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland during more than 21 months of war and there are fears of accelerating starvation.
    — Nidal al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 20 July 2025
Definition of accelerate

Browse Nearby Words

dilatations
dilate
dilated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on dilate

Nglish: Translation of dilate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All