Meaning & use
dilate
To become or make wider, larger, or more open.
See it in a sentence
Her pupils dilated as she stepped from the bright sunlight into the dark theater.
Doctors use special drops to dilate a patient's eyes before an eye exam.
A note on using this word
Dilate is common in medical contexts, describing the widening of the pupils, blood vessels, or, during childbirth, the cervix.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
contractconstrict
Make it your own
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