Expanding, Spreading, or Reducing: English Vocabulary List

to hit the lowest point before things get better

"The stock market bottoms out finally."

"The housing market finally bottomed out after prices fell for three straight years and now they are starting to rise again."

to expand by exploring new areas, options, or opportunities

"The company branched out into new markets."

"The successful restaurant decided to branch out into catering services to reach more customers and increase its revenue."

to prolong or extend a situation, event, or process, often unnecessarily

"Do not drag out the argument unnecessarily."

"The lawyer tried to drag out the trial as long as possible hoping that the witnesses would forget important details over time."

to extend in time, length, or duration, often longer than necessary

"Don't draw out the meeting."

"The speaker's lengthy introduction began to draw out the presentation much longer than anticipated."

to extend outward from a surface or object

"The cliff juts out over sea."

"A large rock jutted out from the cliff face making it a perfect resting spot for tired climbers."

to fill an arena to its capacity

"Fans pack out the stadium nightly."

"The fans packed out the stadium for the championship game and every single seat was filled to capacity."

to gradually lose strength or intensity

"The music fades out gradually."

"The music slowly faded out at the end of the song and the audience sat in complete silence for a moment before applauding."

to gradually end or fade away, often due to becoming weakened

"The conversation petered out awkwardly."

"The conversation slowly petered out as neither person could think of anything else to say to the other."

to decrease the number or density of something

"Thin out the crowded seedlings carefully."

"The crowd began to thin out after midnight as people started to go home because they were tired."

(of an infectious disease) to start and spread within a community

"The flu will break out."

"Public health officials are concerned that a new strain of the virus might break out."

to extend one's hand or an object toward someone, often to give or offer something to them

"Hold out your hand."

"The kind stranger offered to hold out a helping hand to the elderly woman."

to extend a process, activity, or situation

"Spin out the time."

"The prolonged negotiations threatened to spin out the entire process, causing significant delays and increased costs."

to separate a group of things and arrange or place them over a large area

"Spread out the map on the table."

"The students spread out across the library to find quiet places to study for their final exams."

to extend something to its full extent

"Stretch out the rope."

"Please stretch out the yoga mat fully before beginning your practice."