Meaning & use
dilated
Last updated
Made wider or larger than normal, especially describing the eyes, blood vessels, or other body openings.
See it in a sentence
The doctor checked her dilated pupils with a small flashlight.
Dilated blood vessels allowed more blood to flow to the skin's surface.
A note on using this word
Common in medical contexts, such as eye exams or descriptions of cervical dilation during childbirth; the verb form is 'dilate.'
Words with a similar meaning
enlargedwidened
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
constricted
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