expanding
v.v. to become larger in size, amount, or importance. You use this when something grows or opens up to cover more space.
v. increasing in size, volume, quantity, or scope. Transitive when describing an agent increasing something else; intransitive when describing the subject itself growing.
The company is expanding its business into new countries.
The metal bridge is expanding slightly because of the extreme heat this afternoon.
By expanding the curriculum to include digital literacy, the school ensures that students are better prepared for the demands of the modern workforce.
The verb can be used transitively with a direct object or intransitively to describe a natural process of growth.
The balloon is expanding itselfThe balloon is expandingWhen used to describe something growing on its own, the verb is intransitive and does not require a reflexive pronoun.