Expansive means covering a large area or range. When you stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon and look out at the expansive view, you're seeing miles and miles of rock formations stretching in every direction. An expansive prairie seems to go on forever, with nothing but grass and sky as far as you can see.

The word also describes people who are open, generous, and outgoing in their communication. Someone in an expansive mood talks freely, shares ideas enthusiastically, and makes grand gestures. After winning a championship, a coach might become expansive, telling stories and praising everyone involved. Your normally quiet friend might become expansive at their birthday party, laughing loudly and talking to everyone.

Notice how both meanings share a sense of spreading out: landscapes spread across space, while expansive people spread warmth and openness. The opposite would be something cramped and confined, or someone who is withdrawn and guarded. When an author writes with expansive imagination, they create vast, detailed worlds. When scientists pursue expansive research, they explore broad questions rather than narrow ones.